If the women’s national basketball team wants to make history again in the face of the FIBA World Cup, they need to beat Russia today in a match that will be played at the Palacio de los Deportes de Santo Domingo, in the Dominican Republic.
Puerto Rico will play tonight, at 7:00 pm, the crucial and last duel of the World Cup qualifying tournament scheduled to go on stage from September 22 to October 1, in Sydney, Australia. The winning team secures their ticket.
The Puerto Ricans fell in their first two challenges against Belgium and the United States, both teams are already qualified for the World Cup.
“I am very confident with the group. If you notice, we haven’t had a good game yet. (Today) we are going to be close to home and I think that can help us have a good game”, said manager Jerry Batista after the setback against the Americans on Saturday, in Washington DC
The team traveled yesterday to the Dominican capital, where Russia had been preparing for a week, since it was unable to travel to the official venue for the qualifier due to travel restrictions imposed by the United States related to the type of vaccine against covid-19 that the Russians received. FIBA then decided to move the matches against Belgium and Puerto Rico. The United States did not travel.
Russia debuted yesterday and fell to the Belgians, leaving the only available ticket at the mercy.
“What we have seen from Russia is that they are a physically great team that plays very well with a lot of ball passing. And for that we are going to prepare”, pointed out the Puerto Rican coach.
Russia finished in sixth position in the Eurobasket tournament, played last year.
The 11 of 12 countries qualified for the World Cup are Australia, United States, Japan, Canada, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, South Korea, China, Nigeria, France and Belgium.
