Qualifiers unlike any league game for Panama veteran globetrotter Bishop Jr.

AARHUS (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers) - Tony Bishop Jr. has played his fair share of basketball all around the globe to know what he's talking about when saying the atmosphere at the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers is unlike any other he has experienced.

Basketball has taken Bishop throughout the world in his professional career with stops in Denmark, Lithuania, the NBA G-League, Puerto Rico, Germany, Panama, Japan and now back to Denmark with the Bakken Bears.

Bishop has helped Bakken Bears move into the FIBA Europe Cup's second round

Born in Dallas, Texas in 1989, he picked up his Panamanian passport a couple of years ago through his mother, who was born and raised in the Central American country.

"I have a lot of family that still lives there. My grandma lives a few hours outside Panama City. I just had to prove that basically," said Bishop, who made his debut for Panama at the CentroBasket Championship 2016. "It's my heritage and I'm grateful to play for the country of Panama."

All that travelling around the world means the 6ft 7in (2.01m) forward rarely got to play in front of his family. He experienced that feeling in Panama's second game of the November 2017 World Cup Qualifiers, against Argentina.

"It was a great feeling playing in front of our family, friends and fans. For me it feels good that my family that lives in Panama and doesn't see my games in Europe gets a chance to watch me play. I'm sure its the same for the rest of the guys," said Bishop, who picked up 15 points, 13 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block in the 68-59 loss to Argentina.

"THE ATMOSPHERE IS LIKE PLAYING A RIVALRY GAME. FANS SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS, PLAYERS KNOWING THAT EVERY POSSESSION IS CRITICAL. IT TRULY IS INCOMPARABLE TO ANY LEAGUE GAME" Bishop Bishop

Bishop, whose national team debut at the CentroBasket in 2016 came in Panama City, loved the atmosphere at the Arena Roberto Duran in the Panamanian capital for the Qualifiers.

"The atmosphere is like playing a rivalry game," he recalled. "Fans screaming at the top of their lungs, players knowing that every possession is critical, referees on edge so they're locked in. It truly is incomparable to any league game."

The loss to Argentina came after an 86-73 defeat at Uruguay in which Bishop collected 8 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals.

"The two losses early in the Qualifiers put us behind in my opinion. Both those games were winnable. Both teams are good and play great together, but we're on the rise so we will bounce back," Bishop said.

The 28-year-old forward has witnessed some major development in the Panama team since entering the unit two years ago.

They were 4-0 in group play at the CentroBasket before losing to Mexico 59-52 in the Semi-Finals and then fell to Dominican Republic in the 3rd-Place Game. Panama then last summer lost all three games at the FIBA AmeriCup 2017.

"Yes, we lost three games at AmeriCup but we actually learned a lot from those losses, gained chemistry and our young guys gained experience," Bishop pointed out. "Since CentroBasket I can say we really gained experience, learned a lot from our mistakes and we're developing chemistry."

The November Qualifiers were the first time that Panama had all of their top players together other than Akil Mitchell, who is playing in the NBA G-League.

"Other than him, everyone was there and those games were our first test. We hadn't played any games with each other until that point. Now we have something upon which to build," Bishop said. 

And he is certain the Qualifiers will help Panama build on that.

"Playing the games in Panama will help a lot with development. Basketball is already on the rise in the country. There are guys putting in a lot of work with the youth for the future. There is only one way from here and that is up," Bishop said.

A big push up would be for Panama to reach the second round of Qualifiers in 2018 and 2019. Bishop and Co can take a big step toward achieving that with a victory on February 23 at Paraguay.

"The game against Paraguay means a lot, just like every other game we play. We need wins," Bishop emphasized.

The Panamanian fans came out to support Tony Bishop Jr. (here contesting a shot) and the rest of the team in the November Qualifiers. 

Panama last played at the World Cup came in 2006 - their lone appearance in the tournament since 1986.

Ending that drought is Bishop's big dream.

But first, the team must get past the first round Qualifiers.

"Nobody expects us to advance so it would mean the world to Panama to continue playing," Bishop summed up.

FIBA