A game of vital importance for Uruguay and Puerto Rico

MONTEVIDEO (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) — The Uruguayan capital will welcome the sports inauguration of Antel Arena with a paramount game in continental qualifiers in the Road to China 2019.

Tied with a 5-3 record, with four games left to play, including two between them, the Uruguay and Puerto Rico squads will clash on Thursday in a duel of vital importance in both teams’ aspirations of being present at next year's World Cup celebrations.

The challenge between South Americans and islanders will be the first sports event that will take place in the new facility that just recently opened its doors in the middle of the month.

Uruguay and Puerto Rico share Group E’s third place in the Americas Qualifiers, with the Boricuas passing the Uruguayans by a grater point difference. Both teams are two games away from co-leaders United States and Argentina — both with 7-1.

The local and visiting team are presenting a great part of the respective cores that have been present throughout the Qualifiers. However, Uruguay are presenting a new outstanding piece with the integration of Argentine coach Rubén Magnano; Olympic Champion for his country in 2004, and who will assume the reigns of the Celestes during the remaining games of the Qualifiers in their intention of getting their first World Cup ticket since 1986.

Despite the absence of their main baller, Jayson Granger (Baskonia - Spain), Uruguay have a solid group that integrates well-known players such as Luciano Parodi, Bruno Fitipaldo and veteran Esteban Batista.

During the Qualifiers, Uruguay sustain a 3-1 record as locals, but are still in the run for their spot at China 2019 thanks to a triumph at home against Argentina, in the first round. At the jump-start for the second round, Uruguay suffered a calamitous loss in their visit to the United States, but then recovered at Montevideo, with an exciting triumph over Mexico.

Meanwhile, Puerto Rico, who won three of their four games in the summer, will try to keep the tradition alive of their historic supremacy against Uruguay in their attempt of reaching their ninth consecutive and fourteenth participation at the FIBA Basketball World Cup — this time without great figures such as José Juan Barea, John Holland, Ramón Clemente and Tyler Davis.

The squad coached by Eddie Casiano is aware of the great challenge it means to play at the Uruguayan house, in a game that could very well define their immediate future.

“The Uruguayans are a rustic team, that rebound a lot, that play European. They have very good qualities below the rim, they play their spaces well and have two point guards that attack strongly and are consistent in the pick and roll,” stated Casiano in declarations published by the Puerto Rico Basketball Federation (FBPUR, for its Spanish acronym).

In the paint, Uruguay has better figures than Puerto Rico, with an average of 37.9 rebounds in eight games, apart from 11.9 in the offense; whereas the Puerto Ricans add 34.4 and 9.9 offensive rebounds.

“Our hands are full. They're a team that go for the offensive rebound. We have to do a collective job and control the rebounds,” Casiano pointed out, while also recalling that Uruguay recovered 20 offensive rebounds in their win against the Mexicans.

In an interview with FIBA.com, Magnano highlighted the achievements of the Puerto Rican guards, who will depend on the offense that their main scorers Gian Clavell (12.8 points), Ángel Vassallo (10.8) and David Huertas (11.8) contribute; as well as the game of their point guards, Ángel Rodríguez and Gary Browne.

At a historical level, Puerto Rico dominates the series against Uruguay in official games, 20-3, including the 2-0 of the encounters that have taken place in Montevideo (1988 and 1997). The Puerto Ricans have won 12 of the last 13 games against the South Americans, who have not defeated the Boricuas since the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas (82-79). In fact, at that victory against Puerto Rico, Batista devastated the Boricuas with 34 points and 15 rebounds. During the Qualifiers, Batista has demonstrated that he is a key piece in the Uruguayan offense, by averaging 18.2 points and 10.6 rebounds in five games.

After this encounter, Uruguay will welcome the United States on Sunday, December 2. Meanwhile, that same day, Puerto Rico will play against Panama at the Roberto Durán Arena in the Panamanian capital.

Uruguay and Puerto Rico will meet again in the sixth — and last — window on February 25, in a game that will take place in the Puerto Rican archipelago.

FIBA