VEN - Héctor Romero

BUENOS AIRES (FIBA Americas Championship) - Héctor Romero had a surgery for a torn meniscus in late June. Since that day, his only goal in life was to do everything to make it to the FIBA Americas in shape. After an exhausting effort, he achieved his purpose.

Pepito, as he is known, played against Uruguay last Wednesday and against Argentina the following night and, even if he wasn't accurate enough when shooting, his knee was fine.

Romero, one of Venezuela's top players, will make his tournament debut against Brazil on Tuesday's afternoon.

Venezuela will travel by bus 500K from Buenos Aires to Mar del Plata on Saturday and will be one of the first teams to arrive in the beach city.
Before their short trip, Héctor 'Pepito' Romero talked to FIBA about his injury and the team's preparations.

FIBA: How is your knee?
My knee is really fine and everything goes according to our plans. After my return game, I'm now ready to be part of the team's training and help them. Luckily, I feel no pain at all. Even though I still feel a little bit weird because I have been a couple of months without playing, I worked really hard to make it to the tournament.

FIBA: How did you prepare for the FIBA Americas Championship?
After some months walking on crutches, it's hard to learn again how to run and jump. I believe I'll feel as I felt before I got injured by the end of the first group. The problem was that I was running at the time my teammates were training with the ball. Many people would have just withdrawn from the tournament but I practice on a double shift every day.

FIBA: But your first games weren't exactly great.
I must practice like everyone else. I'm not going to score just because my name is Pepito Romero. I have to practice. I could have stayed home and wait until the knee heals and go on with my professional career. But I had to be here. My teammates feel safer with me around. Actually, they faced twice Argentina without me and lost both games by 53 and 17 points. With me on court, we lost just by four points. Not because I played particularly well but because they feel better if I'm fighting, rebounding and blocking with them.

FIBA: Luis Scola also had a knee surgery lately.
People must appreciate what Scola did after his surgery. He has nothing to demonstrate as a basketball player as he has done so many things for his national team. He plays because he loves his country and the team. My efforts are similar to Scola's.

FIBA: What are your impressions of the training camp and the warm-up games?
The preparations were really good. During the six-week training camp, we practiced twice every day, we got used to our new coach, his style and his new plays. We also travelled a lot and that was good to help the group to become more united.

FIBA: What is your goal in the tournament?
We want to make it to the final game. We know it's very hard to start with a new team and win the tournament. We also work thinking on the next two or three years of the team. We know Argentina is one step above us and Brazil, Puerto Rico and Dominican Republic are very good teams as well. However, I'm sure we can beat them if we have a good night. It's a short tournament. It's not like a long season in which you can lose the first five games and still win the tournament.
 

FIBA