Signs of progress evident for Panama's Levy

PANAMA (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - There is positive change in Panamanian basketball and the national team is experiencing it.

Never before has a preliminary squad begun its preparations more than two months prior to the start of a FIBA Americas Championship.

Power forward Jamaal Levy, who has lived many moments of disorganization with the national team program, is excited to being involved in a better process, one that recognizes the commitment needed for the battles ahead.

Panama's preliminary squad has been training for more than three weeks at the Arena Roberto Duran in the capital city.

Preparation is a very important issue and often it has been our Achilles heel for tournaments. - Levy

"It will be key to having the greatest possible amount of preparation, to get chemistry and strength as a team.

"We've started training with the young players and with the players that are back, from playing in other countries.

"Gradually others will be integrated when they finish their seasons overseas.

"I know that the Federation is trying to make a certain amount of scrimmages with other teams before the FIBA Americas Championship, so I am confident that we will be better prepared."

It is guaranteed the FIBA Americas Championship will be a tough competition, with only the finalists clinching spots in the Rio de Janeiro Games and the teams that come in third, fourth and fifth gaining berths in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament (OQT).

To Levy, the aim of Panama should be to finish as high as possible in the tournament.

"We must be a highly-competitive team and be among the fighting teams," he said.

"We know we have not had much international competition in recent years, but we want to take advantage of the time we had in the Central American and Caribbean Games and be in the group that will fight for the tickets to the Olympics, whether direct or to the FIBA Olympic Qualifier.

"I will be happy helping Panama become among the basketball elite of the region."

Panama earned a place in the FIBA Americas Championship by finishing fifth at the Centrobasket, which they attended with a very experienced team.

It would not be surprising if the coach, Puerto Rican David Rosario, were to start making space in the team for some young players because of the need to think about the future.

"The renewal process is required," Levy said. "It happens to all national teams.

"I think that in the situation Panama is in, it is necessary to bring a mixture of experienced players with some young players, to give rise to new talent, which needs international experience at the highest level, to gain experience.

"We have young players, but by the internal conflicts in recent years and the international suspension Panama received, work was not done with team, which somehow affected us."

Panama were suspended by FIBA and had to miss the last FIBA Americas Championship, which was won by the team that took their place in the tournament, Mexico.

Several months ago there was a change in the Panamanian Basketball Federation, with the inauguration of former player Jair Peralta as its president.

He [Peralta] has his working team, and has enough support to fulfill his task for basketball and move it in a good direction. - Levy

"As president of the federation, Jair generated a lot of optimism that many things will change for the better," Levy said.

"As a former player, he knows the needs and idiosyncrasies of the Panamanian player."

Levy just wants to focus on the tasks at hand for Panama's team as it gets ready for the FIBA Americas Championship.

It will play in Group A with Mexico, Uruguay, Brazil and the Dominican Republic.

"As an active player of the national team, I hope that the work is done with the utmost seriousness, professionalism and commitment to international tournaments, " Levy said.

Go to fiba.com/Americas2015 for complete coverage of the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.

FIBA