MEDELLIN (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) — Colombia will host Venezuela at Coliseo Iván de Bedout this Sunday in the second day of the second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Qualifiers. The team coached by Guillermo Moreno need to revert their position and attain at least one victory (0-3) as locals to continue to have a chance to qualify to China 2019. Meanwhile, Fernando Duró’s squad added an important triumph as locals in Barquisimeto against Chile to raise their record to two victories and a single loss.

The Colombian team had a great quarter against Brazil (24-21) but couldn't keep their game up despite the 16-point contribution by Michael Jackson and the 14 by Stalin Ortiz, which resulted in a defeat by a wide margin of 84-49, a result that left them near the elimination.

Heissler Guillént was the greatest scorer, with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists for the maroon side in their victory against Chile (77-56). José Ascanio with 13 points and 4 rebounds, and José Vargas with 12 points were also noteworthy.

“We have to focus on the game as visitors against Colombia; we’ll try to bring that victory too,” Heissler Guillent (VEN)Heissler Guillent (VEN)

“We arrived well at Medellin, with a very high morale and with more days of work. We have a very important game, we know it won't be easy. Colombia reinforced their inside game with Michael Hinestroza and Divier Pérez, where Stalin Ortiz, a historic scorer, is also present. They will give it their all to seek for their first victory at home and we also want to give that important step toward the second phase. We're good, we were able to do a very good training. We keep adding knowledge. There's a good environment for a good game on Sunday,” said coach Fernando Duró.

“Colombia didn't do well against Brazil, but that means absolutely nothing. We must go out to do our thing to keep thinking on that World Cup qualification. The positive thing is that we already have a better idea of them. They were able to add several players that weren't in the first window, but we know them,” pointed out who also coaches Guaros de Lara.

The team coached by the Argentine threw for a 34.78% from the three-point area (8/23) and 47.62% from the field; while capturing 39 rebounds (26 defensive) and did 19 assists in the encounter against Chile. The Colombians only captured 25 rebounds and could only hand out seven assists throughout the whole encounter against Brazil; and only scored 7 of the 34 two-pointers (20.59) and 6 of the 16 three-pointers (37.5).

The leaders of the maroon team are Néstor Colmenares, with a 13-point average per game and 7.7 in rebounds; as well as José Ascanio with 16.0 and 13.0, and both lead in efficiency with the same number. Meanwhile, Gregory Vargas dominates the assists with 7.0.

For Colombia, Jairo Mendoza Valencia is the most outstanding, with a 13.0 efficiency per game; while Hansel Atencia, with 19.5 is the leader in points; followed by Michael Jackson, with 14.7.

FIBA