The four editions that took place in the first decade of the Tournament of the Americas didn't entail significant changes in the reality of continental basketball. The United States popped up by the end of the '80s, so it was Brazil and Puerto Rico who dominated the tournament, each taking two titles back home. The numbers are eloquent and support the supremacy of these two national teams above the rest.

The Brazilians won the Tournament of the Americas titles in 1984 as hosts in Sao Paulo, and in 1988, when they celebrated the win in Montevideo, Uruguay. They also added a fourth place in 1980 and a bronze in 1989.

Their numbers were ruthless and left no space for questions. Their performance in that first decade was outstanding, racking up 26 wins in 30 games, to a winning average of 87%. They got there on their own terms, with an earth-shattering offense that summed up to 101.1 points on average, hiding away a defense that wasn't as pride-worthy, with an average of 91.3 points against them.

But the Puerto Ricans also enjoyed a decade for praise. They got their wins in 1980, in front of their people, and in 1989, in the heights of the Mexican capital, during the first World Cup Qualifiers trial. In 1988 they were second, and the only step back was in 1984, with a frustrating sixth place.

Their excellent performances also reflect on their numbers: 70% wins, a 21-9 record, and a masterful offense (94.1 points per game), which was clearly superior when comparing it to its defense, which allowed 81.1 points by the rivaling teams.

It may be believed, as a way of setting some differences between very similar performances, that Brazil a sudden generational transition and built a broad base of players that lasted several years at a high level. The unforgettable Oscar Schmidt and Marcel De Souza led a team in each international tournament that everyone knew by heart – Israel, Gerson, Guerrinha, Maury, Cadum Paulinho Vilas Boas, and Rolando Ferreira. There was a small margin left for other names to arise.

Puerto Rico also did their rebuilding, although they did take some time to get to similar results. That historic team of 1979-1980, full of "Nuyoricans," kept mutating and gave way to players built on the island, such as Quijote Morales, Piculín Ortiz, Fico López, and the León brothers. Of course, incorporating those that grew up in the United States continued to be, and still is, a constant resource. However, in the '80s and ‘90s, the Puerto Rican nationals received more exposure.

And how did that Brazilian team play? Showcasing their men's DNA at the time, they perfectly demonstrated a way of feeling basketball that was, fundamentally, based on the offense. They displayed an autochthonous way of understanding the game and built a team that was as unique as it was compelling – and unforgettable.

What was Puerto Rico's style? Mirroring the American style a lot of their men grew in, it was an individualistic, intense, and staggering style that had strong technical foundations. And, for better or for worse, they added the distinct Latino touch: sprawling, and with an unbreakable winning attitude.

Beyond all these facts and their timeline, there's a myriad of arguments to support the Brazilian and Puerto Rican dominion.

For Marcel, one of the more consistent scorers in the history of Latin America (and the world?), it's a complicated analysis to make, but he takes it head-on with some arguments he shares. “The first thing I think is that we used to our advantage the fact that the United States didn’t participate and that, when they did in 1989, they came with a team filled with college players. Another aspect was that we had tall men that were good. They set the difference. Brazil had Marquinhos, Israel, Gerson, and Rolando. Puerto Rico had Piculín, Rivas, and Ramón Ramos. Both teams had scoring perimeters because we knew that if we missed, the rebound was certain," says the Paulista as some of the ideas off the top of his mind.

Marcel

Bur Marcel, who in that decade averaged 19.2 points in 22 games in the Tournament of the Americas, gets excited and, with the same clarity he had in the game, shares other reasons. "Many of the players in both teams had some experience in Europe. That gave us another rhythm and strength in our game. It gave us a contact game that wasn't common in Latin America. We also dominated because Argentina took a while longer to develop. When the Argentines improved, it was their turn to dominate.”

At the age of 63, Marcel, who also made a medical career, specializing in Radiology and Family Medicine, bursts in laughter when he remembers that “the games in Puerto Rico were a lot of fun. There were a lot of shots and not much defense. We were two similar teams, with players that were very much on the offense, and we had very short possessions. It was another game. Then came the European school of controlled games, and everything changed.”

Raymond Dalmau is a living legend of Puerto Rican basketball, and in three different decades, he left his mark on the international stage.

Raymond Dalmau

At 71, he assures that "there were two groups: the one that came together in the '70s, with which we achieved the 1980 title, and the one that was build after we retired, in the mid-'80s. In both cases, the defining feature was that we spent a lot of time together. We all knew each other well. The Nuyoricans as myself that arrived in the ‘60s and '70s built a talented team that wanted to be transcendental. And the guys that came after us, Piculín, Mincy, Fico, and Rivas' group, kept a level that was like ours or even better so that Puerto Rico could always be among the best."

Dalmau has an unparalleled record in the Tournament of the Americas. He's the only person that won it as a player (1980) and as a coach (1989). "That title in Mexico was precious because we got it despite lacking several crucial players. We defeated an American team that was built with college players, which was what was used at the time. They didn't know the international stage, and with a good strategy, we were able to defeat them. There, as in the 1990 World Cup, we showed that Puerto Rico was an international powerhouse.”

The statistics say that Brazil defeated Puerto Rico the four times they faced each other in the ‘80s in the continental tournament. Dalmau acknowledges that “Brazil was our nemesis, but they were always tough and close games. We were two teams that fought to be the kings of the Americas, and we created a rivalry that was a great challenge and brought us a great performance."

Alejandro Pérez / FIBA