SAN JUAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) — It wasn’t the best display of their offense, but Puerto Rico engaged their defense and in February they could be writing a new chapter in their country’s basketball history. Looking ahead to the important clashes on the last window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers against Argentina and Uruguay, the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation (FBPUR) began ticket-sales for the match-ups.

In the fifth qualifying window of the Americas, the Caribbean team recovered from a hard defeat in Uruguay, their direct rivals in Group E for a World Cup qualification. Then, they defeated Panama, leaving their options open for a very special weekend that will take place next February in the Puerto Rican capital.

Although they're fourth in their group and currently left out from a World Cup qualification, Puerto Rico still hold their destiny in their hands when, in the sixth and final window, they welcome the Argentine (February 22) and Uruguayan (February 25) national teams.

Two victories will give the Puerto Ricans a direct ticket to China 2019, but what they really need is a win against the Uruguayans to secure their fourteenth World Cup qualification.

Depending on what happens in the February 22 Mexico vs. Uruguay and Puerto Rico vs. Argentina games, the Boricuas could be forced to defeat the Celestes by three, two or one point.

“We’ll give the best we've got. I think that we can put on a great show again and that we can win that game to see if we can make it to that World Cup,” said Casiano to El Vocero when he arrived at the island after the fifth window.

It's fairly certain that the Puerto Rican team play their local games at the legendary Roberto Clemente Coliseum in San Juan; it’s been the home of the national team for several decades and it’s been where they have achieved historic qualifications, such as to the 1994 World Cup (through the 1993 FIBA Americas) and the 2004 Olympics (by way of the 2003 FIBA Americas).

Although Puerto Rico didn't execute as well in the offense during the fifth window, Casiano was satisfied with his squad's work. Against Uruguay, the islanders were very close to getting a win thanks to a marvelous David Huertas (36 points) and, against Panama, Alex Franklin (14 points) put on his superhero cape to bring Puerto Rico back to the fight for the qualification.

Puerto Rico only scored 62 points against Uruguay, and against Panama the attack remained at 71 units, very much below the 85-point average with which the team came into the fifth window. It's true that the Boricuas could've won both encounters, but it's also true that they were very close to losing both and complicate things in their aspirations to China.

“We were very sure that this would be the most difficult window. But we were able to compete and have the chance to win. I think that the work that was done in 72 hours was done well. I'm satisfied with the performance by the players. They played bravely. It didn’t look beautiful, but we were able to take that last game home. Now, to qualify, we must fix all the mistakes we made in the offense and continue with the same defensive intensity,” said the former shooting guard for the national team, which could possibly now count on a reinforced team with the integration of point guard Ángel Rodríguez and forward Ramón Clemente, who couldn't play because they were injured.

To purchase tickets for Puerto Rico-Argentina and Puerto Rico-Uruguay click here.

FIBA