Pitino tells players to shed excess weight
SAN JUAN (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - Puerto Rico's players have been put on notice by coach Rick Pitino that they must be fleet of foot and not overweight if they are going to have a role with the
SAN JUAN (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - Puerto Rico's players have been put on notice by coach Rick Pitino that they must be fleet of foot and not overweight if they are going to have a role with the national team.
The American coach, who is preparing the Boricuas for the Pan American Games in Toronto (21-25 July) and will later lead them at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City (31 August-12 September), is renowned for having up-tempo teams in both American college basketball and the NBA, especially ones that play full-court, high-pressure defense.
Javier Mojica, a national team player that could have a key part to play for Puerto Rico this summer, has been told by Pitino that he needs to lose some weight.
Mojica did not appear to be offended by the mandate because he tweeted about it.
Coach Pitino wants me to lose weight 😳. Gotta be under 10% body fat sheesh
— Javier Mojica (@javiermojica44) July 16, 2015
Pitino's assistant coach, Mike Balado, confirmed to Primera Hora: "Pitino told Javier Mojica he has to lose about five pounds if he wants to try to play defense in this system.
"And he's already following the tips.
"Yesterday he said 'today I had chicken and vegetables.'"
Before the Pan American Games, he [Mojica] must be faster. - Balado
Mojica has only recently joined the national team because his club side, Santurce, made it to the semi-finals of the BSN League play-offs and their last game was on 9 July.
The Pan American Games represent a golden opportunity for Mojica to stake a claim in the FIBA Americas Championship side.
When that tournament is staged, the two sides that reach the Final will clinch places in the Rio de Janeiro Games and the teams that finish third, fourth and fifth will claim berths in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
At the FIBA Americas Championship, Puerto Rico will play in Group B against Canada, Cuba, Argentina and Venezuela.
Mojica played for Puerto Rico last year at the Centrobasket and the Central American and the Caribbean Games but he did not feature in the Boricuas side that played at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.
That team, coached by Paco Olmos, played in Group B and had some good moments but ultimately did not progress to the Round of 16.
Puerto Rico announced in March they had reached agreement with Pitino, the coach of American college basketball side Louisville, to lead the team this summer.
FIBA