The first step for the window, prior to two main games, was taken this past weekend with the camp carried out by the technical direction of the Dominican Federation of Basketball.
Coach José -Maíta- Mercedes is clear about the importance of beating Canada and the Bahamas on February 26 and 27, in the second phase of the FIBA window Americas, qualifier for the 2023 World Cup (August 25/September 10), were also present.
The camp served to see the emerging talent, although several candidates to make up the national team that will compete against the two mentioned countries, were present. The World Cup will be held in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines.
“The presence of Víctor Liz (captain of the national team) gave the camp a lot of character,” said coach José -Maíta- Mercedes, assistant to the national team directed by Melvyn López. Along with Liz, Juan Guerrero, Jonathan Araujo, Juan Miguel Suero, among others, were present. “It serves as a first step for the window,” he said.
The Dominican Republic has a great commitment for the dates mentioned this month.
Canada is in 18th place in the FIBA world ranking and the Bahamas, although in 62nd, a considerable rival in the region. Dominican is at 20.
For Mercedes there are real chances to beat Canada. “Of course I do,” he said. “We are going to have a group that is going to compete and go after that, because they are two extremely important games.”
When defining why these matches are fundamental, he explains it this way: “Because of what they imply in terms of scoring and qualifying for the second round. Entering with six points is not the same as entering with eight”, since with four games to play in that phase, it is enough to divide “and you are already in the World Cup”.
Last week, Fedombal, chaired by Rafael Uribe, called up 26 players. It was clear that a certain number will be chosen from that grid for when a group is made. They won’t all be.
To Mercedes’ delight, she ran into Jerry Flores, Adonis Núñez and Oliver García at the Santiago camp, all members of the U19 team that attended the World Cup in that category. “They were very good.” The importance of this camp lies not only in the window. “Not only are we projecting for the selection for the window” -Mercedes said- “countries will also come to exchange and we are trying to shape that B selection so that we can continue to see that type of development”. In addition to Liz’s intervention, the figure of the former NBA and former member of the national team Luis Felipe López also gave strength to the meeting. “In the end, the intervention of Luis Felipe López, motivating and giving his experience of what the national team was like, the fact of wearing the national jersey, was also valuable,” said Mercedes, who was a teammate of López in Centrobasket 1995, among other tournaments. .
