BUENOS AIRES (FIBA Women’s AmeriCup) - The Paraguayans keep surprising everyone at the FIBA AmeriCup Argentina 2017. This afternoon, they overpowered Mexico 73-67 thus achieving their second victory in three games. Even if the outlook for qualifying pass into the Semi-Finals seems quite complicated, their objective is to be in the first six teams to ensure their spot at the Pan American Games. 

“I believe that this victory puts us in a good position to make it to the Pan American Games. It’ll be the first time that we would go to a tournament like that,” forward Paola Ferrari stated, who once again lead the game with 30 points, six rebounds and four assists. She was key to tying thanks to a series of triples in the fourth quarter, during which her team was losing by six. In the overtime, she showed to have the backbone needed to lead. 

“The key for today's victory was putting some heart into it. I think that we didn't match during the first three quarters. We made many mistakes, but we always were three or four points behind. During the overtime we were much stronger, we defended better and we took the game,” she added.

With 18 points, forward Tamara Insfrán was the other player who played a great part helping her national team. She went on a couple coast-to-coast drives and made the necessary effort in the beginning of the overtime. “Making it to the Pan American Games would be like winning the medal. Paraguay has never lived something like it in the Women's category. It would be historic and beautiful,” she said. 

“The joy and the celebration at the end was all due to the collective job we made. It's possible that mostly everyone thought that we would lose all games by 30. But we won against Cuba, an Olympic team. We were close against Puerto Rico, and winning Mexico today is something incredible because we lost against them by 40 points at the last Olympic Qualifiers,” Insfrán explained; and chose friendship, family and Paraguayan drive as the best qualities of the team.

Argentine coach Juan Pablo Feliú —who lead the Paraguay juvenile team for two years and is now in charge for the first time of the Seniors— also shared the joy resulting from his players’ performance: “I'm happy that people are able to see that Paraguay play at a great level and they didn't come to just participate, but to show something interesting. We came to be competitive and the players have so far achieved it. The other teams have an advantage on the physical side, but with great dynamics, defensive intensity and speed to run the court, we make up for what we lack.”

Regarding their tough task ahead against Canada, she expressed that the Canadians are “above all other teams, but we’ll play our last card. We know that out of every 100 games, we’ll maybe beat them at one. Let's see if that one happens in this tournament.”

FIBA