José Juan Barea: “This court is special, we're happy to be here”

SAN JUAN (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) - Since his debut with the Puerto Rico National Team in 2006, point guard José Juan Barea has been a spearhead for the Puerto Rican side.

With Barea, Puerto Rico has achieved significant triumphs, such as the gold medals in the Cartagena Central American and Caribbean Games 2006 and Mayagüez 2010, as well as the Guadalajara Pan American Games 2011. His great performance in a second round game against Venezuela at the 2013 World Cup Qualifiers cannot be forgoten, since it was key for Puerto Rico's qualification. He has been available to play in the majority of the team's tournaments, no matter the level.

But what Barea has yet to achieve in his successful career with the Boricuas is to play in an official tournament in the Caribbean quintet’s main venue: the Roberto Clemente Coliseum.

Besides the exception of the Tuto Marchand Cup —an event that has served as a practice before Continental Tournaments— Barea has never played at the Clemente Coliseum with the Senior National Team jersey. Due to a shoulder injury, Barea was unable to compete at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in 2009, which took place at the Clemente.

However, this will all change on Thursday, when Barea and the Puerto Rican team play against Cuba as part of the third qualifying window for the FIBA Basketball World Cup China 2019.

“Since I started (in the Senior team) we haven’t had the opportunity of playing a tournament (that's official) here. There were Olympic Qualifying Tournaments before and I know that if we had been given the opportunity (of being hosts), history would have been different,” Barea said to FIBA.basketball.

Puerto Rico has a 2-2 record in Group C of the Americas Qualifiers and must defeat Cuba to secure their ticket to the second stage that begins in September. But first, on Sunday, the team close the first round by welcoming Mexico, a game that is as important since all results of the initial phase of the Qualifiers rollover to the round that begins in a little over two months.

“We have two games here and we have to make the most of it. Playing here is where I enjoy the most. My family will be here, I know a lot of the people. This court is special, we're happy to be here,” said the Mayagüez-born point guard.

As all Puerto Ricans, Barea didn't miss out on the tournaments that the Puerto Rico National Team played at the Roberto Clemente Coliseum, like the 1999 Olympic Qualifying Tournament, and particularly the 2003 edition, when the Boricuas won their ticket to the Olympic Games in Athens.

“There have been special moments here,” said the substitute guard for the NBA's Dallas Mavericks.

FIBA