MIAMI (United States) – Mexico head coach Omar Quintero made his debut from the bench exactly one year ago, in February 2021, achieving two memorable victories in the 2023 World Cup Qualifier.

In the first phase in November, the Mexican team achieved two of the most important results in Mexican national basketball in recent years, after beating Puerto Rico (90-86) and dominating the United States, (97- 88) at the Manuel Bernardo Aguirre Gymnasium in Chihuahua City (Mexico).

With the victory over the Americans, the coach became the first and only Mexican to have beaten the United States as both a player and a coach. The Sonoran achieved that victory as a player on October 29, 2011 at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara (Mexico), with a 71-55 win earning a silver medal.

Quintero, 40 years old and with experience as an assistant and coach in the Mexican Professional League, took charge of "Tri-color" in the last qualifying phase for the AmeriCup 2021 and in the FIBA Americas Championship in Croatia, in which Mexico surprised by defeating Russia, but came up short in their attempt at earning a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

The Mexican Basketball Sports Association (ADEMEBA) renewed the former player for the march towards the World Cup and mentioned him as the new Director of National Teams, a position he assumed with the aim of creating a project with the same game philosophy for all levels.

“Everyone put on the jersey and we were able to debut great youngsters. This is a family. Today it is reflected in the results, but it is the work that has been done for a year. The players know my system and it has been easier to integrate pieces," Quintero said. “We want to return Mexico to a world championship. The first victories in Group D were very important. Beating Puerto Rico, and then being given the opportunity to play against the number one in the world and achieve an historic victory at home, helps us keep progressing.”

Quintero was practically born with a ball in his hands. He was captain of the National Team beginning in 2003 wearing the “C” for 17 years. He is one of the top career scorers in Mexican basketball, leading the 2003 FIBA Americas Championships with an average of 21.1 points per game, and sixth best scorer with 18.5 in the 2005 FIBA Americas Championship.

He played in the Mexican Professional League and looked for a way to fulfill the NBA dream. He was invited to pre-Draft camp in Chicago, Illinois, in 2004, after a stint at Southern Nazarene University in Oklahoma. He had tryouts with the Indiana Pacers and Phoenix Suns and with the Dallas Mavericks and participated in that year's summer league in Long Beach, California. He then emigrated to Spain and became the first Mexican player to play in the ACB League, with Tau Cerámica in 2004. He also had experience in the Italian, Venezuelan and Puerto Rican leagues.

“I wasn't very clear about what I wanted to be when I was a player and I focused on short, medium and long-term goals. I was looking to be a national team player and play abroad. I am satisfied with what I did in my career. Upon retiring, the love of continuing in basketball remained with me and when I was named an assistant coach – that’s when I felt the desire to lead the National Team, which is the best anyone can aspire to. If later I get to be a head coach in an important league, I would also like that.”

Quintero’s main objective with the country's national teams is to give an identity - a "Mexico Style" -throughout all the teams at every level of play.

“We like free flowing play that is organized but without taking away the creativity and energy from the player which is something that has been key in my start as a coach and thus build our game identity. We want to convey to the players, from the U -14 National Team onwards, something that the Argentine or Spanish national teams have, where all categories play in the same way by knowing the offensive and defensive systems perfectly”.

Lessons in basketball

Quintero had Aleksandar "Aza" Petrović as his coach during his time in Italy in 2006. He nicknamed him “El Maestro” and recognized him as the best coach of his career. Together they were in Carifa Basket Fabriano in the second division. "Aza", brother of International and NBA legend Dražen Petrović, told him about how it was difficult for a shooting guard to adapt to the NBA due to its structured game. Quintero used that information as something positive to help adapt his game and transfer it to his teams in this role as coach.

“We are making a generational change. We needed it. We have experienced players like Orlando Méndez, Gabriel Girón, Paco Cruz and have added new faces like Daniel Amigo and Gael Bonilla. We include players from the U-17 like Santiago Camacho and Víctor Valdez for this second window of 2023 FIBA World Cup Qualifiers. We want to work smart and be mentally strong. We’ve demonstrated it with victories against world powers like the USA and Russia.”

In addition, Quintero has decided to mention players such as Juan Toscano Anderson (Golden State Warriors) and Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA Bruins in the NCAA) who, although they will not be able to attend the next phase due to commitments with their teams, are part of the project for almost a year.

Having an experienced and close-knit staff which includes Kaleb Canales, who has NBA experience, Gustavo Quintero, his brother, and Spanish coach Javier Monferrer, as well as the ADEMEBA team is a true blessing and advantage for Quintero to be able to lean on.

“Kaleb decided to return to Mexico and it is very important that he be part of the coaching staff due to his career and NBA experience (with 12 years as an NBA assistant, 30 games as head coach of Portland). Gustavo is my trusted older brother and he does the scouting and Javier, who comes from being the coach of the U-16 in Barcelona also gives us his experience. All areas are working in synergy.”

In search of more victories that bring him closer to the World Cup dream

The coach has already chosen his 12 warriors for the next qualifying phase for the World Cup, which will be in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. This month, in Havana and Washington DC, they will face Cuba (on the 24th), which lost their two matches in the first phase (against Puerto Rico and the USA) and then the duel will be against the North Americans (on the 27th), seeking a new feat that leaves him at the top of the group.

“The Cuban National Team played very well in Chihuahua - fought with Puerto Rico and the United States and it is important to get the victory in Havana. With the United States we will have to face revenge. It will be a very important game."

FIBA