Venezuela putting in hard work ahead of WOQT

BAODING (2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - No matter what happens this summer for Venezuela's women's national team, 2016 will be deemed a success.

The team led by head coach Oscar Silva is practicing, traveling and playing games against top-notch competition. The team is taking important steps as it looks to turn into one of the leading sides in the Americas.

In January, the Vinotinto took part in the Olympic Test Event in Rio de Janeiro and squared off against Brazil, Australia and Argentina. Now the team is in the Far East, getting ready to face China in three warm-up games for the South American Championship and the FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) in Nantes, France, 13-19 June.

Venezuela and China are to square off on 6th, 8th and 10th of April in the cities of Baoding, Fuyang and Taizhou, respectively. The Chinese will be one of the Group D opponents for Venezuela at the WOQT with Spain the other.

These commitments will allow us to have a better idea of what we are going to face later, remembering that China will be our group rival together with Spain in the WOQT. The tour is going to allow us to reach a better level for the South American Championship, which is our first major objective, a tournament we are determined to do well in as the hosts. - Silva

Venezuela will be well-travelled by the time the South American Championship tips off on 21 May - on homesoil, in Barquisimeto - because after their trip to the Far East, they will fly to Spain on 12 April and stay there until 10 May.

Spain proved to be a good place for the country's national teams in 2015. Both the men and women were there for training camps and friendlies before going on to achieve success at their respective FIBA Americas Championships.

The women did not reach the podium, yet they won the Fifth-Place Game against Puerto Rico in Edmonton, Canada, to clinch a spot in this year's WOQT. It will be their first appearance in the tournament.

The men won a Semi-Final of the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City to seal a spot in the Olympics. That side, coached by Nestor 'Che' Garcia, then beat Argentina to capture the title.

Yosimar Corrales, who averaged 10 points and six rebounds per game for Venezuela in Edmonton, is looking forward to the team's return to Spain. She is hoping the time in the country will be just as useful as it was last summer.

The experience this past year in Spain, in Torrejon de Ardoz, was very productive. We played against the main women's team, against the under-17s, the under-23s and those teams were taller than us. The work against them helped us claim in Canada a place in the WOQT. - Corrales

Venezuela senior women's national team squad on tour: Dianora Rivas, Endrina Bolivar, Ivaney Marquez, Josberly Torres, Keesi Ford, Luisana Ortega, Marielka Garate, Mayerling Landaeta, Roselis Silva, Sharol Renault, Waleska Perez and Yosimar Corrales.

FIBA