FIBA - Profile of 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup wild card candidate: Venezuela

MIES (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - On 1 February 2014, FIBA's Central Board will announce the national teams that will be the recipients of the four wild cards to complete the field at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Fifteen national teams from across four FIBA zones submitted their applications for the wild cards. They all participated in their respective 2013 continental championships which are qualifying tournament for FIBA's flagship event in Spain next year (30 August-14 September 2014).

The 15 candidates are: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Nigeria, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Turkey and Venezuela.

In the lead-up to the decision on 1 February, we will profile all 15 applicants.

Today we look at Venezuela (VEN).

Recent history in international competitions: Venezuela hosted the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship and finished third in the First Round Group B with a 2-2 record. Venezuela opened the championship with a loss to Mexico before beating Paraguay and Dominican Republic and then finishing the First Round with a loss to Argentina. In the Second Round, the hosts knocked off Uruguay 70-64 and Canada 64-59 before falling to Puerto Rico 86-85 in overtime. Venezuela finished their group play with a win over Jamaica, but it was not enough to advance as they ended the Second Round with a 4-3 record in fifth place. Venezuela were hoping to reach the Semi-Finals for the first time since taking third place in 2005. Their only other FIBA Americas podium finish was second in 1992. Venezuela have played at three World Championships, taking 11th place in 1990, 14th in 2002 and 21st in 2006. The Venezuelans only Olympics tournament came in 1992, though they hosted the 2012 Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Carmelo Cortez, the President of the Venezuelan Basketball Federation (FVB) took time to make his country's case for receiving a wild card.

FIBA: What are the three main reasons why Venezuela deserves to receive a wild card to participate in the 2014 FIBA World Cup?
Cortez: 1. Venezuela finished fifth at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship and were competitive in all games, with their biggest margin of defeat being nine points. It was their second consecutive fifth-place finish in the continental championship, having achieved that result in 2011 in Mar del Plata, Argentina. 2. Venezuela successfully organised and hosted the 2012 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament and the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship. 3. Basketball is one of the most popular sports in Venezuela. Our national team has wide popularity and support as seen in past tournaments. We estimate a total of at least 2,000 Venezuelans supporting our team would travel to the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup if we are given a wild card. Another aspect is that our country has a considerably big community in Spain, with more than 80,000 expats living there. The cross-cultural connection between the two countries dates back to the colonial era. Also, the total mobilisation of passengers between Caracas and Madrid alone is very high, with the figure for 2012 standing at 437,406. Spain is a leading tourist destination for people from Venezuela, with an average of 36.400 travellers heading there every month.

FIBA: If given a wild card, how competitive can we expect Venezuela to be and how confident are you that the team will feature all its leading/best players?
Cortez: We can confirm that if we get a wild card, the participation of our major international players at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup is guaranteed. The support of the players is absolute and they look forward to the possibility of getting a wild card as an opportunity to showcase the Venezuelan talent that is on display in international leagues. Greivis Vasquez of the Toronto Raptors, Donta Smith and David Cubillan both of Maccabi Haifa, John Cox of Cholet and Gregory Echenique of Osostende have confirmed they would be with our national team at Spain 2014. In addition, we have confirmed high-level preparations for our team if we get the wild card, which ensures a highly-competitive team at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

FIBA: How will having your national team play at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup help the growth, development and popularity of the sport in your country?
Cortez: As noted previously, basketball has enough merit to be considered a true "phenomenon" in Venezuela. The results of the national selections in all categories has meant that the media - which is traditionally engaged with greater emphasis in sports like baseball or football - has dedicated entire pages of newspapers in the country to basketball, with specialised cable and broadcast TV programmes complementing the wide-ranging coverage basketball receives today. Venezuelans players who are active in foreign leagues have generated important follow-up of the media and have become role models for children and young people. A strategic alliance between the Professional Basketball League (LPB) and our national federation has allowed us to aim at higher targets. Along with getting a wild card for Spain 2014, our main targets include qualifying for Rio 2016, the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup and Tokyo 2020. This partnership with the LPB focuses on achieving a higher quality of basketball in the short run for Venezuela, making the switch to FIBA's competition regulations for basketball at all levels and prioritising the integral development of our professional teams as well as all stakeholders involved. Receiving a wild card would represent a well-deserved boost to the plans our country has for basketball and FIBA can be assured that our team will be competitive and generate a lot of attention from the media and strong following from fans and spectators. It should also be noted that Venezuela has experienced success on FIBA's 3x3 World Tour, with a team from Caracas winning the Rio de Janeiro Masters and then finishing third at the Word Tour Final in Istanbul.

FIBA: What do you consider as the greatest moment in your country's basketball history?
Cortez: In 1992, Venezuela came in second in the Tournament of the Americas held in Portland, Oregon with their only loss coming against the USA's Dream Team. This Venezuela team also won the South American Championship in 1991. No doubt these events are considered "milestones" in the history of Venezuelan basketball. That generation won the qualification for the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992.

FIBA