Venezuela’s ‘Go-To’ Man

VALENCIA (Jeff Taylor’s London Calling) - One can never underestimate the impact that a player like Venezuelan Greivis Vasquez can have on a national team.

The 24-year-old is full of emotion.

He is a natural leader.

After his days at the University of Maryland, where he became the school's second all-time leading scorer and was hugely popular on campus, the Terps raised his jersey to the rafters.

Another former Terrapin, Spain-based Nik Caner-Medley, knows the 1.98m guard.

The two did not play on the same Maryland teams but did train together during the summers at College Park and often competed with, and against each other in pick-up games.

Caner-Medley, who is now with Valencia Basket in the Liga Endesa, said: "From my experience with him, training with him and seeing him play, being around him, the best attribute he has as a player is he's a competitor.

"You can tell by watching him play that his desire to win sets him above a lot of other guys who are concerned not only about winning, but individual things.

“But I think he clearly puts winning above some of that stuff. As a point guard, that's really important.”

Vasquez has a year in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies under his belt.

After helping the Grizz upset the San Antonio Spurs in the first round, and also playing in the Western Conference Semi-Finals against Oklahoma City, Vasquez joined his national team for the FIBA Americas Championship and for coach Eric Musselman, he was indispensible.

A native of Caracas, Vasquez averaged 19.2 points, 5.8 assists and 4.2 rebounds per game.

Venezuela beat Uruguay in the battle for fifth place to secure a spot in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

He has charisma in abundance, so when his country was named host of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament last weekend, Vasquez spoke out.

Vasquez said the government needs to follow through on promise to “guarantee aspects of security, infrastructure, accommodation and travel” and also called on the players to “arrive in the right condition and be determined to clinch one of the three spots available”.

He also appealed to the fans to back to the team in its attempt to reach the Olympics, something Venezuela has done only once, in 1992.

The Venezuelans are lucky to have a player like Vasquez.

"He's one of those guys that you want on your team late in the game,” Caner-Medley said, “because he's not scared to take big shots, not afraid of the moment.”

Jeff Taylor
FIBA

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