PUR – Puerto Rico to warm up with the Dominican Republic

PONCE (2009 FIBA Americas Championship) – The Puerto Rican national team will open their warm up schedule prior to the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship by playing a series of games against the Dominican Republic. Both countries will be exchanging visits prior to the FIBA Americas Championship informed Puerto Rican national team General Manager, Agustin Diaz.

Puerto Rico will visit the Dominican Republic on July 24-26 and it is expected to be played in Puerto Plata. Then the Dominicans will visit Puerto Rico on August 7-9 and those games will be played at Coliseo Roberto Clemente, home of the FIBA Americas Championship.

The Dominican Republic will have NBA players like Charlie Villanueva, Al Horford, Francisco García and Trevor Ariza in their team as they hope to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.

"We want to play some games with the Dominican Republic because we know that they will be one of the strongest teams in the tournament," said Diaz to FIBA Americas.

Also the Puerto Rican team received an invitation to play in Venezuela from August 11-13 where also the Dominican Republic, Mexico and the host will play. They will announce soon if they accepted the invitation.

Their strongest warm up is at the Tuto Marchand Continental Cup to be played from August 18-20 at Coliseo de Puerto Rico along with Argentina, Brazil and Canada.

After the Tuto Marchand Cup, Puerto Rico expects to play a couple of more games against Argentina and Brazil prior to the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship to be played from August 26 to September 6 in San Juan.

Puerto Rico will defend their country with players like Carlos Arroyo, José Juan Barea, Ángel Daniel Vassallo, Peter John Ramos, Ángelo Reyes, Larry Ayuso, among others.

"The initial calling for the pre selection will be of 25 to 30 players, including some who will play in the FIBA U19 World Championship in New Zealand," said Diaz.

The practices are expected to start on July 7.

FIBA Americas