Ortiz believes in experience factor of Puerto Rican players

VALDIVIA (FIBA Americas U18) – The National Team of Puerto Rico is ready for the start of the FIBA Americas U18 Championship, tournament that will be staged in the city of Valdivia, Chile. The Central American champion hopes to get one of the available tickets to the 2017 FIBA U19 World Championship.

Before their arrival to the Chilean city, the Puerto Ricans were in Argentina, where they played three games against the host, and finished with a balance of one win-two defeats.

The Puerto Rican National Team Coach, Daniel Ortiz, was clear in stating that his team has "less preparation time than the desired, but he is confident that the experience of the players can overcome this deficiency and that the team can achieve the qualification to the 2017 FIBA U19 World Championship. We feel that we have the tools to take one of the tickets.”

When describing the characteristics of his team, which won the 2015 Centrobasket U17 Championship, the Puerto Rican coach stressed that "possibly the greatest virtue is the experience some of these guys have in international tournaments, while others add positive experiences in their schools in the United States. That’s the power of this group."

The Puerto Rican team has nine players who are training in United States’ collegiate basketball. Their contribution is something that Ortíz remarks as a plus for the team.

"Being in the United States collegiate basketball forum, on the one hand, it helps the players improve individually as they are facing good opponents and are part of a good competition. The downside is that because of their academic and sporting commitments, the work plan of the National Federation may have to change," said the coach.

Puerto Rico will have a tough debut as they will face big favorite the United States. The rest of the group consists of Chile, and Virgin Islands.

"It’s a tough group, but the other one is too,” said Ortíz. “In international competitions there is no small opponent. Everyone comes with its own merit. We must overcome the difficulties they present to us. We will try to reach the semifinals.”

For the coach the qualification to the 2017 FIBA U19 World Championship will be very valuable.

"It is very important for the National Program, since it would give continuity to this group of players, pointing to their development, while gaining international experience. This will be very important for them and they more likely will continue competing," concluded the Puerto Rican coach.

FIBA