FIBA AmeriCup 2025 – Team profile: Uruguay

MIAMI (United States) – Uruguay looked strong in the FIBA AmeriCup Qualifiers and was one of the first teams to clinch a spot in the continental tournament. The team finished second in Group B with a 4-2 record, and both of the losses came against Brazil by narrow margins (less than 10 points). Now, they’ll aim to carry that good form into Nicaragua and go after a headline-grabbing result in a competition that has traditionally been an uphill battle for them, despite being one of the oldest national teams in South America.

Uruguay currently sits at 51 in the FIBA World Ranking presented by Nike, and ranks ninth among teams from the Americas.

Tournament history

This will be Uruguay’s 19th appearance in the premier continental event. The only edition the team missed was in 1989. They have one silver medal (1984), earned in the second edition of the tournament. In the last 15 editions, they have not finished higher than sixth place. In Brazil in 2022, they ended in 10th place.

Players to watch

Point guard Bruno Fitipaldo headlines the sky-blue roster. The 34-year-old is coming off another strong season with Spain’s Tenerife. There, he averaged 10.8 points on 44.7 percent shooting from three-point range, along with 4.1 assists. In the Qualifiers, he appeared in two games, posting averages of 15.0 points and 7.5 assists.

Shooting guard Joaquín Rodríguez and point guard Santiago Vescovi are ready to make major contributions, while forward Emiliano Serres and playmaker Luciano Parodi will bring valuable experience.

Head coach: Gerardo Jauri

This is his second stint leading the national team. Since taking over for the AmeriCup Qualifiers, the team has shown more offensive vigor and greater defensive commitment. This will be his third AmeriCup at the helm. His resume includes a silver medal at the 2008 South American Championship and a bronze at the 2010 edition.

Outlook

Uruguay has tough competition in Group A, where they will face two powerhouse teams USA and Brazil. Even the Bahamas, which may not have a rich basketball tradition, boasts athleticism that has historically troubled Uruguay. Uruguay’s best chance to reach the Quarter-Finals may be by finishing as one of the two best third-place teams in the Group Phase, as claiming a top-two spot in their group seems like a mighty task.

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