MONTEVIDEO (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) - At the world basketball level, it’s always positive that players that have had a transcendent career continue to be involved and work towards the betterment of internal structures.

Jair Peralta and Antonio García were key in a victorious period at the court for Panama, and now they look for ways to help the internal structure to reach their greatest potential. One’s a point guard, the other's a forward; one’s small, the other's big; and yet, both have the same goal: make Panama excel in FIBA basketball.

They, like few others do, know firsthand how much work must be done for a national team to be able to compete and for players to feel the calling to defend their country.

Jair Peralta is the president, but he made sure to set the record straight: “You always suffer more from the outside than when you're inside, but this is the road I decided to take a few years back, with the idea of improving our basketball's structure.” Antonio García is not far from Peralta’s line of thought: “It’s very hard to be outside the lines, it’s hard to bear with. Now I'm the national teams’ manager and I'm accompanying who all my life has been my teammate. The idea is to work the hardest we can to help the Federation in everything we can.”

Peralta knows what road he wants to travel: “We want to share with the younger generations the experience that we've lived in Panama, good and bad. We’ll be calling several former players to ask them to take part in this initiative.” Meanwhile, Antonio explained his new role: “I'm paying attention to all the other teams’ details; the eldest of the intermediate category, and the masculine and feminine U-17 teams. It’s about being aware and that they feel the Federation's support in everything they do, be it in trainings or travels. I go to the practice, I speak to the coaches and I watch that everything is ready for our experience to be heard.”

Both players were part of a successful generation that reached Basketball World Cups and was always the focus of attention; and yet, they don't want to be alone in the Federation’s new structure. The President is quite clear on that: “All of those players have had an extraordinary career; especially Michael Hicks, who continues to play in the Uruguayan League and whom I would like to have with us in the future. There's a lot of work to do here but not much money.” García has a similar opinion regarding the names that could help out: “It would be very significant if Hicks, Garcés and several of the guys participated. It was a generation that worked hard and if we come together as coaches, chances are that we’ll do very well. A lot of work must be done; whoever wants to join us is welcome.”

“Toñito” García marked a period in his national team, which is why he commented on the search for a substitute for his former position: “Each one is different, but there are very interesting players like Oglivie and Carter.  The best thing is that very young players from U17 are coming up and they are big and strong. I think I identify more with them than with the Seniors.”

FIBA