VEN - Mentality must change, says Lugo
CRIKVENICA (FIBA World Championship) - Venezuela center Richard Lugo insists his team-mates' mentality must change if they are to prosper at the FIBA World Championship. Nestor Salazar's squad suffered their ninth defeat in a row when they lost 80-73 to Bosnia-Herzegovina in their latest warm-up for the tournament in Japan. "Excuses always justify what is happening, but I think some players have to change their mentality because they think we are still in Venezuela and have not got used to this style," said Lugo
CRIKVENICA (FIBA World Championship) - Venezuela center Richard Lugo insists his team-mates' mentality must change if they are to prosper at the FIBA World Championship.
Nestor Salazar's squad suffered their ninth defeat in a row when they lost 80-73 to Bosnia-Herzegovina in their latest warm-up for the tournament in Japan.
"Excuses always justify what is happening, but I think some players have to change their mentality because they think we are still in Venezuela and have not got used to this style," said Lugo.
"We are not facing any team, we are facing World Championship teams. They are national teams who have been better than us, so I think we can use their style as an example."
Lugo believes it will take a team effort to succeed in Japan.
"We are not used to it in our country," he added. "Teams can do seven or eight passes, centers can shoot three-pointers, teams play with the clock and rotate the ball very well.
"We are feeling okay but we are not satisfied because things have not been going completely well, or at least as we had expected.
"Each of us should focus on contributing more to the team. If we win, we all win. If we lose, we all lose."
Venezuela have been drawn in World Championship Group A, along with defending champions Serbia & Montenegro, Olympic champions Argentina, France, Nigeria and Lebanon.
Their opening game is against Lebanon on August 19, the first day of the tournament.
PA Sport