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20 November, 2017
26 February, 2019
19 Heissler Guillent (VEN), 10 Hansel Atencia (COL)
11/12/2017
News
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Atencia: Qualifiers a chance to show Colombia have a bright future

SANTA CLARITA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - Hansel Atencia believes Colombia have a bright future and he believes the people of his homeland should also see that when they look at the team competing at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers.

Colombia opened the Qualifiers with two losses - a defeat at Venezuela and a loss in front of the home fans in Medellin against Chile. And that puts them in a 0-2 hole in Group B, from which three teams advance to the second group stage starting in November 2018.

"I think that both losses were really tough because it basically reduces our chances to go to the next round," said Atencia, who was the team's leading scorer with 19.5 points while also averaging 3.0 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 2.0 steals.

But the 20-year-old really values the Qualifiers as they provide his compatriots back home to see the national team.

"I think it is a great opportunity for the fans in every country to have the chance to watch their basketball team at home competing for a spot in the World Cup," said Atencia, who was representing Colombia for a second time at the senior level after playing at the FIBA AmeriCup 2017.

Hansel Atencia averaged 5.7 points and 4.7 assists for Colombia at the FIBA AmeriCup 2017.

The Barrancabermeja native, who played at the South American U15 Championship 2012 and South American U17 Championship 2013, was impressed with the atmosphere for the Qualifier against Chile at the Ivan de Bedout arena.

"The environment was great … I appreciate the people that showed up to support us no matter the loss we had at Venezuela," he said. "We could feel the energy that all the fans had."

Atencia said Colombia having only nine players against the deeper Venezuela played a major role in their first loss. In the second game, Colombia fell behind by double digits early and eventually got back into the game but missed two chances to tie it up in the final seconds.

Atencia, who plays college basketball at The Master's University in the United States, says the Qualifiers showed that Colombia have potential, and he hopes they are a signal to investors in the country to put their money and support into basketball.

"Hopefully with the World Cup qualifiers, people can see that there is a bright future ahead for us and therefore start investing or helping somehow in the development of this sport in our country."

The potential is there though. Atencia could almost be considered a veteran on this team at 20 years of age as the Colombia team also included 19-year-olds Soren del Luque, Hector Martinez and Alejandro Minota.

"Even though I am only one year older than them, I had an opportunity to teach them the little that I know from being on the national team the past couple of years, and it was great," Atencia said. "What I liked the most was that they weren't afraid to go out and compete against the other teams even though it was their first time."

But the Qualifiers also served as a great teaching lesson for Atencia as he got the chance to play alongside Edgar Moreno and Eleuterio Renteria who are both 36 years old.

"I learned a lot from those two. It was so cool that I had the opportunity to play with them because growing up they were part of the professional team that played in my city and I always liked the way they played," Atencia said. "I think Edgar is a big reason why my confidence went up for these past two games. He was always telling me to shoot the ball, to play my game and to play free. But I think that what I admire the most about him is his leadership and the way he feeds us with his positive energy before a game, the way that he talks to everyone, always wanting everyone to do their best no matter what the circumstances were. It was fun to plate with them both."

The 36-year-old Edgar Moreno has played for the Colombian senior national team since 2006.

Colombia have not played at the FIBA Basketball World Cup since 1982, when they hosted the country - a fact that Atencia thinks is crazy.

"I think the new Competition System gives us more chances to make it to a World Cup. It's been so long and it would be amazing if we can make it happen soon," he said.

Colombia's hoped Road to China 2019 continues in February 2018 with a game in Brazil and a Qualifier at home against Venezuela.

"What we can take from the first Qualifiers is that we still have a chance to make it to the next round. Our group is filled with a lot of talent. Brazil, Venezuela and Chile are great teams, but we know that we can compete with anyone when we play together and when we play hard. We lost both games but there are still four more games to go. This is just the beginning."

Atencia hopes it is also the beginning of the rise of Colombian basketball.

FIBA