SAN JUAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) — Basketball in Puerto is, probably, not going through its best moment at time. But despite not portraying any noteworthy results like in previous occasions, the Caribbean squad are at the steps of the new FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The qualifying system has been a difficult challenge for the Boricua team and this week they’ll face their final test when they welcome at home, in the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, Argentina (February 22) and Uruguay (February 25) as part of the Americas Qualifiers’ Group E.

The men led by Eddie Casiano are entering the sixth —and last— window as the fourth qualified team in their group and are currently tied with Uruguay. However, the Uruguayans are occupying the third spot thanks to their slim victory at Montevideo in November.

Now, Puerto Rico are preparing to welcome the South American rivals who defeated them in these Qualifiers and will try to make it up to their demanding fan base.

“The qualification is up to us,” Casiano sentenced in an interview with FIBA.com.

The worst-case scenario for Puerto Rico is that they're forced to defeat Uruguay by three points or more in order to stay in the World Cup run, where they have appeared consecutively since 1986.

For this window, the island squad are bringing most of the core that has participated in this qualifying process. Standing out on the 14-player short-list is forward Ramón Clemente’s return, who was absent of the past qualifying window due to an injury; and point guard Carlos Rivera, who's coming back to the side because of their need of having a veteran player in this position due to Ángel Rodríguez’s injury. Shooting guard/small forward John Holland’s return has also been confirmed.

Puerto Rico started their practice on Monday, with a double work shift, and will continue until they face Argentina on Friday, at the host capital city.

“I'm not going to start improvising with players that haven't been in any window. The fans are the fans and I must decide in the moment. I can't play Russian roulette. At this moment I must go in with the people that have played under that pressure,” stated Casiano, who won’t be counting on center Tyler Davis’ services and doesn’t know if he’ll have small forward Alex Franklin.

Since their first World Cup appearance in 1959, Puerto Rico have constantly been up on that stage —their only absences have been in 1970 and 1982. For Japan 2006, the Boricuas didn’t qualify directly, but were one of the four wild-cards and played in the FIBA Basketball World Cup. At the Olympic level, the Puerto Ricans haven't participated in the past three cycles, so their basketball urgently needs a World Cup qualification this week.

“I understand the situation we're in. I'm not going to lie and say things that aren't true. Qualifying would be a great achievement for us at the moment. We're going from less to more. I'm not afraid to fail. When you step on a court there's always the possibility of losing. Whatever will be, will be. We're going to give the best we've got. Like a true warrior I'm going to be standing there,” emphasized Casiano who, in his career as a player, went to the 1994 and 1998 World Cups.

“This is the moment for these players, who have been in the highs and lows of the National Team, to have the chance to be together. This is a tribute to themselves, to show the best they've got, to compete and represent their country and themselves. Most of them are coming in from the youth leagues. It’s a tribute to them, and to our country, to give ourselves the chance to qualify,” concluded Casiano.

FIBA