Eddie Casiano acknowledges Mexico is “very dangerous” opponent

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Almost three months ago, Mexico dominated Puerto Rico in the second window of Indianapolis and put them on the brink of elimination from AmeriCup 2022.

Tomorrow, Friday, with differences on both sides, the teams face again, needing a victory in the third and last window of this qualification that is played at Roberto Clemente Coliseum, without the public.

Mexico (2-2), Puerto Rico (1-3) and the Bahamas (1-3) are looking for a place to qualify for AmeriCup 2022 through Group D, led by the United States (4-0), which already have the permit.

National team leader Eddie Casiano described today, Thursday, as dangerous for this edition of Mexico, which came to Puerto Rico with a new leader in the figure of former player Omar Quintero instead of Spaniard Paco Olmos, and with the presence of the leader and former NBA player Gustavo Ayón.

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“I know the players. They are very strong in paint. You need to see how the leader will use them. I know Omar Quintero (leader). I know he plays the classic inside. It is a very dangerous team, which we know is difficult to recover and which defends it with difficulty “, said Casiano, who had a lot of experience in the Mexican league.

Shabazz Napier, with the ball, will give more depth to the perimeter of Puerto Rico.
Shabazz Napier, with the ball, will give more depth to the perimeter of Puerto Rico. (FIBA)

“We have to go back to the family. Not only (players in positions) of four and five. It should be 1, 2 and 3. Dirt. And, if we dominate the tables, we can have light baskets “, added Casiano.

Quintero will be the Mexican driver instead of Olmos, who led Mexico’s victory over Puerto Rico in November last year, but this time he did not travel with the team that had problems calling players to the window.

In addition to Ayón, Mexico also brought shipowners Paul Stoll Yes Jose Estrada, who combined for 24 points and 12 assists against Puerto Rico in the last game, which the Aztecs dominated 81-56. Ayón was not in the last window.

Statistically, it would be enough for Mexico to get a victory to qualify for the AmeriCup 2022. The same will happen to Puerto Rico only with a victory over the Bahamas.

For his part, Casiano spoke positively in a teleconference about this edition of the Puerto Rican team that receives back José Juan Barea and Gian Clavell and that will see the expected debut of Shabazz Napier.

This time, Casiano had a better preparation with the group compared to the previous window in the middle of the action of the BSN “balloon” which caused a negative atmosphere in the appeal due to the differences with the senior league. He has been training for more than two weeks with a good group of baskets, which lack stature and resistance in paint.

“It simply came to our notice then. The players were super-disciplined and super-emotional. It’s a different group. There is an absence of the usual: height. But we have the speed of the middle players and the inclusion of Barea, Shabazz, as well as Gian. We have a fairly complete team, balanced enough to make a good and beautiful representation “, he said.

In turn, Casiano left the door open to start the game with Barea and Shabazz on the perimeter.

After Mexico, Puerto Rico will face the Bahamas on Saturday to close the window. The Bahamas had Puerto Rico on the brink of elimination in the last window before falling 91-85.

Cassian described the Bahamas as a known rival.

“It’s a wonderful, hybrid team. It has many shooters. We need to contain them individually, and not offer them photos in threes. In this edition we have more points than in the last edition. Defensively, I think they will have a few more problems, because we have more options to attack them, “he said.

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