SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico) - For Puerto Rico, the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in San Juan is the perfect opportunity for history to repeat itself.
It was August of 2003 when, playing in front of their fans at the Tournament of the Americas, the boricuas defeated Steve Nash's Canada in the third place game to qualify for the Athens Olympic Games.
Head coach Nelson Colon was in the stands that glorious day for the island and understands the significance almost better than anyone.
We want to live and be part of that history.
"This is what we are," he said. "It's part of our culture. I was 23 years old and I was at the game at the (Coliseo Roberto) Clemente when we beat Canada and now to have the opportunity to guide this group, it's very special. For me, for the people, for my family, for my kids. It's very beautiful."
That squad, led by current National Team general manager Carlos Arroyo and key figures like Larry Ayuso, Pikulin Ortiz and Eddie Santiago, went on to beat the United States in Greece en route to a historic sixth place finish.
Twenty years later, Jose Alvarado and his teammates are vying for the chance to repeat the feat.
"We know 2004 happened a while ago, (two) decades and we understand that," he said. "We look at it as an opportunity to put ourselves in history. If you’re not motivated by that, then I don’t know what else motivates us."
Colon admitted they’ve been using 2004 as a motivational tool.
"Every day we bring up that topic," he said. "Every day, in one way or another, we arrive there. About what it means for our country, for us and for future generations of young Puerto Ricans that will be present at ‘El Choli’ to watch us play. It's a chain that we must maintain. We did it during the World Cup and we saw how the country stopped, how the P.E. teachers were showing the games in the mornings and how the whole country was positively involved with us. Those are things that maybe we don’t pay attention to but have the chance to impact a lot of people."
The team not only has the benefit of continuity (with 10 players returning from the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup), but also most of their players are in playing shape since Puerto Rico’s BSN (Baloncesto Superior Nacional) league is in-season.
"We have 10 players that are in game rhythm," Colon said. "Alvarado and (Davon) Reed arrived ready to play, so the commitment has been teamwide. We know we have a challenge that we need to face as a group."
The task at hand will be hard. Puerto Rico shares Group B with Italy and Bahrain, with Mexico, Côte d'Ivoire and Lithuania awaiting if they make it to the Semi-Finals.
"It's good pressure," according to Colon. "It’s a privilege to be in this tournament with the magnitude it has and what it means for the world and for FIBA."
The prize is nothing short of basketball immortality.
"We know how important these games are for the island, for the history of the culture and for us," said Alvarado. "We are just excited to be a part of it."
"We want to leave that mark in the country," added Colon. "We want to live and be part of that history."
FIBA