While it is true that the athletic talent of the National Team was developed mostly outside of Puerto Rico, it is also true that the technical talent of the National Team comes from the Puerto Rican base.
National coach Nelson Colón took advantage of every moment with the media on Thursday, after achieving a rare and important victory against Italy in the Pre-Olympic tournament being played here, to highlight his technical level, as well as that of his assistants Rafael ‘Pachy’ Cruz and Carlos González.
He took advantage of the space they call the mixed zone, where staff from both teams are available for quick interviews with the media.
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“It’s special because we’ve sacrificed a lot, because we’ve believed in this group of guys and we’ve given them continuity, because we’ve grown through defeats, which teach you how to improve, which are your best teachers,” he said.
Colón is in his first Olympic cycle as a national leader, as are González and Cruz. All three have been leaders of clubs, of the BSN, of the Puerto Rican base, etc.
The coaching staff is now two wins away from qualifying the team for the Olympics for the first time since the Athens 2004 edition of the Games, then under the command of Julio Toro.
Colón also took advantage of the press conference to elaborate on the subject, and did so in an emotional tone.
“While everyone is partying, watching movies, Parising, we are practicing. My oldest son has just been promoted and I can’t be with him because this is, at this moment, more important for me, for my career, for my family. I try to be better every night. My son told me ‘don’t worry. Follow your dreams. ’ My family is with me all the time. We believe in God, in this group, and why we are so proud of this victory,” he said.
Colón has said that the Pre-Olympic tournament is the biggest challenge of his career.
Also in the press conference in response to questions from El Nuevo Día, Colón added that he has spent hours taking workshops outside of Puerto Rico, distanced from his family, learning the FIBA game, divorced from the NBA game, to learn the style of play that suits him.
He also pointed out that Cruz and Gonzalez are technically his assistants, but that in reality they are two leaders, two basketball heads that he needed on the coaching staff.
2024-07-05 01:38:00
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