SANTIAGO (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - Chile achieved one of its goals by earning a spot in the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers and now the team will gear-up for the September window, where the team will face hard match-ups against the powerful teams of the Dominican Republic and Canada.

The Head Coach of the Chile Claudio Jorquera spoke with FIBA.basketball with less than a month to go for the start of the next qualifying window.

Chile achieved its first objective and qualified for the Second Round of Americas Qualifiers. What balance do you make of the about the first six games of the Qualifiers?
We achieved our first objective It was very important to be able to maintain a rhythm in international competitions. It was something very important for the basketball because it generates activity for this group of young players that is beginning to stand-out and needs continuance in quality competitions, to be able to maintain the development that has been sustained Chilean basketball. I think that in all of the games we went out to look for a positive result. Representing Chile means showing respect and pride, something we demonstrate at all times.

How will the team approach the next window of the Qualifiers?
What is coming now in the Second Round is not very different from the previous one, in the sense that we are going to face all the games in the same way, looking for the way for a positive result, understanding that we have to keep moving forward in international basketball. We know that our next commitments are against the Dominican Republic as visiting team and against Canada as host in Valdivia, they are going to be tough games, with teams that have shined recently and that have well-known players.

What does the team have to improve?
We have to improve on the fight for the defensive rebounds, it's something that has cost us a lot and we are paying dearly by giving the opponent second chances. We have to improve our ability to generate situations in offensive advantages. We are depending a lot on what we can contribute with our perimeter shot, we have to add more offensive elements to our offense.

FIBA