BARQUISIMETO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) — One of the advantages of the qualifying windows format for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 in China is that the national teams from different countries have the chance of trying out the new talents that are developing.

In Venezuela, center Luis Carrillo is up for the task of showing that he can compete and be a part of the maroon jerseys in the February window, after being left out of the roll-call for the two games that took place in November.

“I don't want to miss this opportunity. I was training in a gym with a plan that was given to me by trainer Rafael Montes de Oca. I also saw a Nutritionist and I have a diet in which I eat five times a day. Besides, I was training in Crossfit to develop a greater strength and a better resistance. This is what I've been doing,” said the 6’8” center to the official page of the Venezuelan Basketball Federation (FVB, for its Spanish acronym).

Carrillo accepted coach Fernando Duró’s challenge of coming to train in a better physical shape.

“I focused on curtains, on rolls and on half-court shots. I know I have a good chance of being in the team and I want to do it the best I can. I come with the mentality of contributing something and being focused on what the coach mostly wants from us, which is the defense,” said Carrillo.

However, Carrillo has a strong competition, since in the paint Venezuela has veterans Gregory Echenique, Néstor Colmenares and Windi Graterol, as well as Jesús Rodríguez and Carlos López.

Venezuela will also count on point guard Gregory Vargas’s presence in a team that until now has a 1-1 record in Group B, which they share with Brazil (2-0), Chile (1-1) and Colombia.

In the February window, the maroon jerseys will play against Chile on February 22 in Barquisimeto, and on February 25 they will travel to Medellin to face the Colombians. 

FIBA