In the absence of some of her older men, the national men’s basketball team will have to play with what it receives.
This was acknowledged by the captain and owner of the Puerto Rican team, José Juan Barea, who assured that he will have to bet on speed to try to escape with his debut this Friday in the third and last qualifying window for AmeriCup 2022 in the bubble Roberto Clemente Coliseum., San Juan.
Puerto Rico will not have Jorge Brian Díaz at the center, for personal reasons; and striker Isaiah Piñeiro, who was unable to travel to the island due to pandemic restrictions in Latvia, where he plays for VEF Riga.
“We have to play with what exists. Basketball has changed a bit too. I understand that you have to play faster and play open ground. The big men will have to make an extra effort to fight the big men of the other teams “, said Barea during a conversation he had on Wednesday with the press accompanied by Shabazz Napier.
Mayaguez canastero joined the team last Sunday in Madrid, Spain, where he plays for Movistar Estudiantes.
And since his arrival, Barea has seen the Puerto Rican team led by manager Eddie Casiano “very well.”
“Everyone is in good shape. We have a good group. The practices look great. And we have everything: from shooters; good clothes, as always; and the big men who, although we are a little short, are the toughest who play and are going to fight, “he said.
“We have to play a fast game with a lot of ‘pick and roll’ and open the field. I think that if we play our game, we will do well “, said Barea.
Puerto Rico plays this Friday against Mexico and on Saturday against the Bahamas, as part of the action of group D. Both games are scheduled for 21:00 and will be broadcast on WAPA Deportes.
Puerto Ricans must win to secure their ticket to the AmeriCup 2022, which is a qualifier for the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima and the world windows that begin in November.
The United States – already qualified – leads the undefeated group with 4-0, followed by Mexico, with 2-2, and Puerto Rico and Bahamas, with 1-3. The top three in each group advance to the AmeriCup.