Eddie Cassià acknowledges that Mexico is a “very dangerous” opponent

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

Tomorrow, Friday, with differences on both sides, the teams face again needing a victory in the third and final window of this qualifier that is played at the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, without an audience.

Mexico (2-2), Puerto Rico (1-3) and the Bahamas (1-3) are looking for a qualifying spot for the AmeriCup 2022 for Group D, led by the United States (4-0), which already has its place assured .

The leader of the National Team, Eddie Cassià, described today, Thursday, how dangerous this edition of Mexico, which came to Puerto Rico with a new leader in the figure of former player Omar Quintero instead of the Spanish Paco Elms, and with the presence of its leader and former NBA player, Gustavo Ayón.

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“I know the players. They are very strong in the paint. We have to see how the leader is going to use them. I know Omar Quintero (leader). He is playing in the classic, inside. It’s a very dangerous team, which we know rebounds and tough defense, “said Cassià, who has 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 as a family to the rebounds. Not only (the players in the positions) of four and five. It must also be 1, 2 and 3. Get in. And, if we dominate the tables, we can have easy baskets “, added Cassià.

Quintero will be the Mexican driver in place of Olmos, who led Mexico’s win over Puerto Rico last November but who this time did not travel with the team that had trouble summoning the players out the window.

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

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

For his part, Cassià spoke positively in the teleconference about this edition of the Puerto Rican squad that receives back José Juan Barea and Gian Clavell, and that will see the long-awaited debut of Shabazz Napier.

This time, Cassià has had a better preparation with the group compared to the previous window in the middle of the action of the ‘bubble’ of the BSN that caused a negative atmosphere in the call for differences with the top league. It takes more than two weeks of training with a good group of basket makers, which does not have height and force in the painting.

“The preparation has been extraordinary. The players have been super-disciplined, and super-emotional. It’s a different group. There’s an absence of the usual: stature. But we have the speed, of average players, and the inclusion of Barea, of Shabazz, like Gian’s. We have a pretty complete team, balanced enough to make a good and beautiful performance, “he said.

Cassian, in turn, 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 big, hybrid team. It has a lot of shooters. We have to contain them in one-on-one, and not give them three-point shots. In this edition we have more points than in the last edition. Defensively , I think they’re going to have a little more trouble because we have more options to be able to attack them, ”he said.

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