Cox still in the clouds after famous Venezuela summer

PHILADELPHIA (2016 Rio Olympics) - It’s all happened so fast, Venezuela’s rise to the top and their qualification for next year's Rio de Janeiro Games.

So fast, in fact, that one of the national team players John Cox is still getting to grips with what he and his teammates accomplished in Mexico City at the FIBA Americas Championship back in early September.

Remember the celebrations of Venezuela coach Nestor 'Che' Garcia, when he ran around the court with his arms wide open, smiling and shouting for joy?

Venezuela went from being a team that won just a single encounter at the 2015 Pan American Games to a team that beat a Canada side full of NBA players to reach the Final and qualify for the Olympics.

Next, Cox and Co beat international basketball powerhouse Argentina to win the title for the first time.

"The best," Cox said to FIBA.com, when asked where the FIBA Americas Championship success ranked in his career.

"Nothing else comes close."

Yes, Cox, who was born in Venezuela 34 years ago but was raised in the United States, is going to remember what happened in Mexico for the rest of his life.

"It was such a blessing, what happened," he said.

"I'm still shocked that we won the gold.

"Seriously, I'm in Philly now and there are guys still congratulating me every day.

"It's just amazing."

Cox, who hails from Philadelphia but played for the San Francisco Dons and then launched a professional career that has seen him play mostly in France, is back in his hometown waiting to return to Venezuela.

He will head back to the country in early December and play for Bucaneros.

Cox will arrive a hero.

When people ask what the secret to Venezuela's success was, he'll answer that when a group of players and coaches are pulling in the same direction and full of self-belief, anything is possible.

"The team really stayed together," he said.

"Our defense really won it for us. We tried to follow the game plan that Che gave us.

"We won our big games, when it counted, to qualify."

The FIBA Americas Championship has now, in back-to-back events, had surprise winners.

Mexico prevailed in 2013 when Venezuela hosted the tournament.

Now Venezuela have won it when Mexico hosted it.

This summer's experience was really like winning two gold medals for Venezuela.

Getting a place in a FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament was within reach, but making it to the Final looked like a mission impossible.

Not only did they reach the Final, they won it.

"We stayed in the moment," Cox said.

"We came together and decided what we wanted, the gold.

"Yes, we celebrated a little bit but we stayed in the moment, had a little meeting, decided we wanted to finish the job.

"It was the icing on the cake."

The win over Canada, the qualification for Rio, the title.

Which means more to Cox and Venezuela?

There is no need, Cox says, to separate the achievements.

"Everything was one big thing," he said.

"The qualification was there but the gold made it better.

"We made it one big celebration."

Much will happen between now and the start of next summer's Olympics.

Some players are already having tough practices and games.

There will be discussions, too, about the best way for Venezuela to approach the Olympics.

Twelve players gave everything they had this summer to book a place in Brazil.

Will they go to Rio, or might one or two make way for the Greivis Vasquez and Gregory Echenique?

The former decided not to play last summer while the latter was with the team in the build-up but got hurt.

"That's a great question and it's one I don't know the answer to," Cox said.

"That is for the Olympic Committee of Venezuela (to decide). That's their job.

"Both of these guys have been a part of Venezuelan basketball since their youth.

"I'm sure they'll want to play. Even during the games (in 2015), they were rooting for the guys, staying in contact."

Cox does know what thing.

He will be in Rio.

"I'm looking forward to the whole experience, the Opening Ceremony," he said.

"I want to go and see as many events as I can.

"I'm looking forward to it as a whole.

"I'm excited about it."

 FIBA