MEDELLIN (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) - The Puerto Rican team’s rebuilding will apparently bring the much-awaited presence in the paint that many in the Island have been expecting.

Since former Center José “Piculín” Ortiz’s international retirement, the Puerto Rican National Team is out to seek tall players that dominate the inside game. For some time, Daniel Santiago and other players were present, but now there’s a new generation that's available to assume the position’s important role.

This is the case for Centers Jorge Bryan Díaz and Tyler Davis, who are becoming the men responsible for protecting the Puerto Rican paint.

“It’s a great responsibility, but I feel fine. I've been preparing for when this moment came. Now, it's my job to do the best job I can to help the team win some games,” said 27-year old Díaz, who has already been officially with the senior national team since 2014.

Díaz’s progress has been evident. At Puerto Rico’s National Superior Basketball (BSN, for its Spanish acronym), he was titular Center for the champions of the league’s tournament, the municipality of Quebradillas’ Piratas. During the regular season, he had the best performance of his career; averaging 13.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and was picked for the All-Star Team.

At the AmeriCup starting date, Díaz had a solid beginning, achieving an 11-10 double-double in their defeat against Mexico. Davis also shone and added 11 points and 8 rebounds at the lost game.

Díaz expects to continue at this level in the Boricua team and pointed out what would be the key to achieve it:

“Preparing both mentally and physically. Playing with lots of energy and drive and doing what I'm being asked to do in the offense and defense,” said the 6’11” center.

Davis will be the title Center for AmeriCup and he understands the importance of playing this tournament:

“It's more experience and I have an idea of what I can expect. It's all about going out with energy, just like in every other game. We have to give it our best,” underlined Díaz, who has talked to Davis about the responsibility and projection that they both have in the Caribbean side.

“He’s motivated and he’s a great player. He’ll do a great job and he’ll help us very much,” Díaz said about Davis.

Davis, 20, stood out again against Colombia, when he registered 11 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Davis knows Puerto Rico’s need for the inside game and he believes that he and Davis can do it.

“We both have our strengths, we play well. We came to do our job and perform,” said Davis, who will start his third college season in the United States at Texas A&M.

FIBA