SAN JUAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) — At the Qualifiers towards the World Cup in China, coach Eddie Casiano has set a goal to take Puerto Rico to the first ten spots in world basketball.

There is still much to do to achieve this goal, but the Boricuas are closing in at a good pace.

On Friday night the Puerto Rico national team achieved another important victory when they overcame Panama as locals, 82-73, in front of a full house at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan.

Although their great figure was captain José Juan Barea, with 18 points, Casiano could count on the teamwork, a philosophy that has been constantly emphasized by the Puerto Rican coach.

“The 12 (players) accept their role. There's no ego of who plays better. That's the most important part,” said Casiano in a press conference after their triumph against the Panamanians. “We're not a world power, but we're working towards that. We're putting together a group so that it stays together,”
-Eddie Casiano, head coach of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico (5-2) is adding three consecutive victories in the World Cup Qualifiers — all of them as locals. The wins (against Canada, Mexico and Panama) were hard-fought, but the prize is valuable, and the Caribbean team is on a good streak in their attempts to being in another FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Now, the Boricuas face the most complicated part of this round. A long voyage awaits them to Formosa, and on Monday they will face Argentina (6-1) on a duel that is key for both national teams.

On paper, Argentina seem to be the favorites. However, Puerto Rico has had some good battles — and even victories — in Argentine land. Barea knows this all too well, since he was part of the islander team that was very close to defeating Argentina in 2011 for the ticket to the London Olympic Games.

“Don’t remind me of that, you just messed my night up,” said Barea laughingly when interviewed by FIBA.com during a recent training session in Puerto Rico. “We had bad luck in the last plays trying while to defeat a great team. We gave ourselves that opportunity and my shot went too far. I remember that day,” said the point guard who, in the final seconds of that game made an uncomfortable three-point shot that, if it had made it in, would have given Puerto Rico the triumph against an Argentine team that presented a good part of their Golden Generation.

“It was a great team (Argentina) and we had the chance, but we also had a perfect team with (Renaldo) Balkman, Carlos (Arroyo) and Daniel Santiago. Everyone was very good that year,” Barea reminisced.

That group unity that Barea spoke about in the 2011 team is similar to the non-protagonist game that Casiano insists on. And no matter the conditions, and after the triumph against Panama, Puerto Rico has their head held high before going for a greater victory.

“Argentina respects us. They know that we can defeat them at any moment, just like they can defeat us,” said Barea.

 FIBA