In the absence of some of their older men, the men’s national basketball team will have to play with what’s there.
This was acknowledged by the captain and owner of the Puerto Rican team, José Juan Barea, who assured that they will have to bet on speed to try to come out on top in their debut this Friday in the third and final qualifying window at the AmeriCup 2022, in the bubble of the coliseum Roberto Clemente, of Sant Joan.
Puerto Rico will not have pivot Jorge Brian Diaz, 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 is there. Basketball has also changed a bit. I understand that you have to play faster and play open court. The big men are going to have to give extra effort to fight the big men on the other teams.” , Barea said during a conversation he had with the media on Wednesday accompanied by Shabazz Napier.
The Mayagüezano partridge joined the team last Sunday from Madrid, Spain, where he is playing with the club Movistar Estudiantes.
And since he arrived, Barea has seen “very well” the Puerto Rican team led by leader Eddie Casiano.
“Everyone is fit. We have a good group. The practices look great. And we have everything: from shooters; good stations, as always; and big men who, even though we’re a little short, are the harder they play and they’re going to bandage, ”he said.
“We have to play a fast game with a lot of ‘pick and roll’ and open the court. I think if we play our game, we will do well,” Barea said.
Puerto Rico plays this Friday against Mexico, and Saturday against the Bahamas, as part of the Group D action. Both matches are scheduled for 9:00 pm and will be broadcast by WAPA Sports.
The Boricuas need to win to secure their ticket to the 2022 AmeriCup which is a qualifier at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima and the world windows starting in November.
The United States – already ranked – leads the group undefeated with 4-0, followed by Mexico, with 2-2, and Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, with 1-3. The top three in each group advance to the AmeriCup.