The national basketball team took another step towards the FIBA World Cup 2023, this Thursday by winning 115-70 to Bahamas in the Poliedro de Caracas. With a record of 8-3, they will reach the last day with many options to qualify for their fifth World Cup.
Coach Fernando Duró celebrated the performance of his players, who -in addition to their well-known good defense- displayed a powerful offense.
«It is a joy to be together again and compete. Today we compete, the result was opened in the first half and we continue with the same intensity and rotation, “she considered at the post-match press conference.
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“The players did a great job, there was a lot of intensity, that is what we are looking for to be able to continue competing at an international level,” he added.
The coach explained that the most difficult part of this Thursday’s commitment was to identify the players and the proposal with which the Bahamas would come out, with no options in the World Cup race. The only thing that was clear was that a solid defense was needed and on that point the boys did not fail.
«I am happy with the team and with the group. Many of the things we had been doing went very well, especially in defense,” he specified.
Among other things, Fernando Duró took the opportunity to highlight the work of José Materán (16 points), Yohanner Sifontes (12) and Edgar “Petare” Martínez (7) as the immediate future of the team. He insisted that Venezuela has a solid base to continue competing for many more years.
Focused on beating Canada
The victory against the Bahamas was an important step. But a victory for Brazil or Canada was needed to celebrate qualification and neither of those combinations came to pass. Puerto Rico dominated 92-90 in Brazil and Argentina defeated Canada 83-72.
This means that Venezuela will not know its destination until Sunday’s game, when it receives precisely Canada. Fernando Duró’s men fell to this team 94-56 in the rough beginning of the last window, but that score, far from demotivating, is one more boost for the criollos. They want to redeem themselves.
“We always go for more. We will play and compete on Sunday against Canada, as we had planned before this match (against the Bahamas),” he said.
Even losing that commitment, Venezuela retains options to qualify, but it depends on other results.
