Venezuela puts their 'Evolution of Basketball' in play
CARACAS (Venezuela) - It's not enough for a national team coach to just show up at training camps and prepare the players for tournaments if a country craves success in international basketball.
There has to be a program, one that's run with a focus on development of players and coaches.
Fernando Duro, Venezuela's national team coach, was among those stressing the need for such a program after guiding the national team to a 14th place finish at the FIBA Basketball World Cup and since that time, hope has turned into reality.
Duro, who hails from Argentina, is at the helm of Venezuela's national team
Dubbed "The Evolution of Basketball" by the Venezuelan Basketball Federation (FVB), the initiative has seen the launch of the first Basketball Super League tournament, on Margarita Island, on October 31. Thirteen clubs are taking part.
Young players have been getting a chance to compete and coaches have been learning, too. Duro, who is getting ready to lead the "Vinotinto" in the second window of the AmeriCup Qualifiers, also took the opportunity to meet with Venezuelan coaches.
Venezuela announced earlier this year plans for a National School for Coaches, and a National Association of Basketball Coaches.
"We want to lay the foundations for a national program that could be historic, that thinks about future generations and offers a good base of players and coaches for the teams and the national team," Duro said.
"We want to transfer the values we have in the national team to all of Venezuelan basketball, largely through the National School of Coaches."
The FVB also wants promising young players to have an opportunity to remain in Venezuela and develop rather than being forced to leave.
PLAN ALTURA 🏀
— Federación Venezolana de Baloncesto (@FVBbasketball) November 11, 2020
El Presidente de la #FVB @HanthonyCoelloB visitó a Osman Guilarte en el estado Anzoátegui, un jóven de apenas 13años y mide 2 metros.
Osman forma parte de los 80 jóvenes más altos del país que hemos censado tanto en el masculino como el femenino.
1/2 pic.twitter.com/HBXkN0ALYl
Duro, with an eye on the future of the national team, this past week invited some young players to take part in the preparations for the upcoming AmeriCup Qualifiers.
Venezuela face Colombia (Nov. 27) and Chile (Nov. 28) in the Qualifiers. Both Group A games will be in Buenos Aires, with FIBA having instituted a “bubble” format for this window.
Argentina take on Chile (No. 27 ) and Colombia (Nov. 28), while Group B teams Brazil, Panama, Uruguay and Paraguay will also be in action at the same venue.
The bubble format allows for a more controlled and secured environment to compete during the coronavirus pandemic.
Venezuela split two games with Argentina in February, winning in San Luis but then losing at home.
FIBA
