DOM - Garcia out to enjoy last run with national team

HOUSTON (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The Dominican Republic may be known as one of the best baseball countries on the planet, but their performances in recent years at leading basketball tournaments has also helped the Caribbean island firmly establish itself on the world's hoops map.

By finishing respectively third and fourth at the 2011 and 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, the Dominican Republic men's national team has been improving a lot.

Among the main reasons for the Dominicans' progression has been the huge impact of players such as NBA All-Star Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks, fellow big man Jack Michael Martinez of Trotamundos de Carabobo (Venezuela), Ratiopharm Ulm (Germany) guard Edgar Sosa and veteran Francisco Garcia of the Houston Rockets.

Garcia, 32, will be one of the players to follow for the Dominican Republic, who are expecting to keep their run of good results going at this summer's FIBA Basketball World Cup.

With less than 90 days to go to Spain 2014, the forward has been talking to FIBA.com about his excitement to play for the national team which will open its campaign in Bilbao's Group C against Finland, New Zealand, Turkey, Ukraine and the USA.

"I am really looking forward to playing with the national team this summer. I want to enjoy it at its best because it is going to be my last competition with the national team," Garcia said.

Without the presence of the superstar Horford, sidelined due to a pectoral tear, Garcia is expected to be the leader of Orlando Antigua's squad.

A very solid three-point shooter, the former University of Louisville player wants to do his best for his last round of national team duty and help the Dominican Republic confirm their recent improvement.

Since earning his first senior national team cap at the 2003 Pan American Games, Garcia has played in every major competition with his national team except for the 2006 Centro Basket Championship.

He led the way as his country finished fourth at last year's FIBA Americas Championship in Caracas, Venezuela, to qualify for FIBA's flagship event for the first time since in 36 years.

"We were a bit disappointed because we wanted to bring a medal home," Garcia said, thinking back to last summer. "We played some great games against Argentina and Puerto Rico for example, and with a bit of more luck, we could have reached the Final.

"But the most important was to earn a spot for the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain. It's a proof that Dominican Republic's national team is improving and deserves to be considered one of the most competitive of the continent.

"The national team has been doing very well in the last few years and I think that Dominican basketball has a great future. A lot of young players, like Karl Towns Jr for example, are emerging and I am confident that they will help the team stay very competitive."

Garcia is very enthusiastic at the thought of participating at Spain 2014 (30 August-14 September).

"Spain is the perfect place for this kind of tournament. The fans are great and all the best teams from around the world are going to participate in the competition," he explained.

"There are a lot of Dominicans expatriated in Spain, so I am sure that a lot of people are going to support our team.

"It is the first time that our national team will compete in the World Cup since 1978. It is an honour for all of us and we are going to make our fans proud."

Despite not being considered as one of the favourites in their group, Garcia thinks his team has the potential to reach the Final Phase.

"The USA are clearly the favourites, but I think that the rest of the group is very balanced. We have the potential to win sufficient games and reach a spot for the Final Phase. That is our main goal," he stated.

The eight-year NBA veteran had a good campaign with the Rockets in 2013-14, helping them finish with 54 wins and 28 losses, fourth best in the Western Conference. However, their playoff run didn't turn out as they expected as they were eliminated in the first round by the Portland Trail Blazers.

"It was tough to lose in the first round. We had a great season and we wanted to go far in the playoffs," he explained.

"But the team as a lot of good players and everybody is going to learn from the mistakes we made to be more competitive next year.

"The Rockets are going to fight for the title very soon."

FIBA