PANAMA CITY (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) — Javier Martínez, former Paraguay National Team point guard —and who left his spot to be a part of Luis Oroño's coaching staff— talked before the start of the second window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers, where the South American team will play to games as visitors; first, against Panama, at the Roberto Durán Stadium; and then, on Sunday, against Argentina, a country where he lived and played for 15 years in its national league. He feels, at times, as just another Argentine.

-What is your take on the Paraguay National Team before the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers?

We have the need to win and so does Panama. For them, it's an advantage to start this window as locals. They're a renovated and different team that the one we faced at the FIBA AmeriCup at Mar del Plata. We know Jamal Levy, Trevor Gaskins and Jaime Lloreda because we've faced them in Argentina, but now they have other very athletic players. Both of our teams have the need to win and we hope that the obligation they have to win as locals plays against them and we can take advantage of the situation. We’ll try to use the game against Panama to our favor in this qualifying window, and I believe that we can give a good surprise.

-Argentina is special because of their history. How do you feel when you face them?

There are mixed feelings regarding Argentina. I can't detach from them. I spent 15 years living and playing in Argentina. Life changes, no doubt about it. We're confident, but we can't stop being realistic about the current situation of the Argentine players —those who play in their country as well as those who live in Europe or Asia, such as Luis Scola. We’ll try to play well against them, no matter the result. One of my idols is getting his jersey retired (Andrés Nocioni) and in that type of situation I feel like just another Argentine. I always want them to do good, but now I'm on the Paraguay bench and we're looking for our best game.

-How do you view the Paraguayan roster for these two qualifying games?

There's no active competition in Paraguay that allows us to have much time in the court, so some players are more trained than others and with Luis (Oroño) we try to be in our best sporting shape and to try and find the role each player has en both games. We are seeking a game ideology because, in our case, the players are also seeking their place in the National Team. There’s a difference in what we were and this new team, that's much faster. Despite losing the first two games of the Qualifiers, we found good things at a defensive level. In this stage we have new faces that give us a defensive edge that we didn’t have in the first two encounters.

-Considering your experience in Argentina, what expectations do you have for Sunday's match?

The Argentine National Team is changing the team names, but their idea is the same as the Golden Generation’s: they keep their game style because every coach does so, and even more so in Sergio Hernández's case. They only change the names and many of the players are playing in Europe and want to earn their spot in the National Team.

-What is your opinion on the new format of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers?

I love the format because you have contact with the players and the coaching staff throughout the year and besides, you have six games in the regular series and time to improve things in between Qualifiers. It gives you the chance to play as visitors and as locals and that the people of your country to also enjoy the National Team.

Group A Schedule for Paraguay:

Paraguay vs. Panama 02/23/18 - Roberto Durán Stadium, Panama
Panama vs. Uruguay 02/26/18 - Roberto Durán Stadium, Panama

FIBA