The triumph that made a generation unforgettable

CARACAS (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) — September 11, 2015 is remembered by Venezuelans as one of the greatest dates in sports celebration history. That day, their national basketball team achieved, for the second time in their history, to qualify to the Olympic Games (Rio 2016) after surprisingly defeating the Canadian powerhouse in the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship semi-finals in Mexico.

The North Americans, who had nine NBA players present in their roster, not only were the specialists’ favorites to reach one of the two tickets to the greatest sports event in the world, but also to be crowned as the tournament’s champions.

Young promise Andrew Wiggins, as well as Corey Joseph, Kelly Olynyk, Nik Stouskas, Anthony Bennett, Dwight Powell, Andrew Nicholson, Robert Sacre and Melvin Ejim were the Canadian NBA members of the squad. Completing the roster were Aaron Doornekamp, Brady Heslip and Phil Scrubb, who were coached by another NBA veteran — Jay Triano.

Venezuela, on the other hand, arrived at Mexico City with significant absences, and former NBA player Greivis Vásquez declared having differences with the Venezuelan national federation. Both Luis Bethelmy and Gregory Echenique suffered injuries; meanwhile, Michael Carrera and Anthony Pérez were not allowed to attend by their NCAA colleges.

In the end, the chosen players were Miguel Marriaga, Gregory Vargas, John Cox, David Cubillán, José Vargas, César García, Javinger Vargas, Miguel Ruiz, Windi Graterol, Heissler Guillent, Dwight Lewis and Néstor Colmenares, who arrived in good shape to the tournament after a preparation through Europe that lasted more than a month. And they demonstrated so in the court by going on to the semi-finals.

The Game

The day of the semi-final the Canadians seemed unstoppable on paper. They had already subdued Venezuela in the group phase, 82-62. The maroon jerseys, despite the effective performance they had showcased under the leadership of coach Néstor “Che” García, seemed not to have enough to manage a positive result against such a rival.
But coach García’s philosophy boosted the team with confidence.

“I always said to the guys that if we reached the game’s last quarter, while keeping them close in the scoreboard, we would be able to defeat them,” said “Che” once.

“I remember that game like it was yesterday,” shared Néstor Colmenares. “Che said to us: ‘Come on, we're three minutes away from making history.’ Those words motivated us. We started to adjust the defense better, then Heissler scored a three-pointer to end the possession, which was very important. I think that the game will go down in the history books and as a group we’ll be remembered forever,” added the power forward that contributed eight points and six rebounds for the triumph.

Colmenares pointed out that Venezuela went decidedly into the game and with an established game plan.

“Coaching assistant Daniel Seoane did a great scouting job. What we agreed to do was to leave their big players to do their job, but not to allow shooters like Heslip and Staukas to get involved. And that’s what we did. We always kept the game tight and we figured out that if we could do that, we could defeat them,” he explained.

Windi Graterol was Venezuela’s greatest scorer in this commitment, with 20 points. But, contrary to Colmenares, who remembers each occurrence in vivid detail, Windi remembers in a more wholistic manner. He was so joyful that it is hard for him to be precise.

“There were so many emotions that day that it's difficult for me to talk about it (he sighs). I think that was the best day of my life as a player. Before the game I was very nervous, but things started to go well for me in the court and I don’t even know how that happened. I had to guard Olynyk, who scored more than 30 points (34), but we were supposed to force them to look for him. When we won, we couldn’t believe it. I can’t describe what I felt,” described the Caracas native.

Another crucial figure was Guillent, with 19 points that included the three mentioned by Colmenares, which served to close the gap even more in a moment when Canada had established a 7-point difference with only three minutes left for the end of the game.

Gregory Vargas was entrusted with the crucial moment. With a few seconds left to end the duel and with the scoreboard tied at 78, he received a foul under the rim during the struggle for a rebound. The referees had to consult the video and, a few minutes later, they ratified the foul in favor of the point guard.

All the game’s pressure was on his hands, but Vargas scored the first one of his two free throws and his nation burst into a joyful explosion.

“Pressure and nerves. That's what I felt. It was short, but the moment felt very long for me as soon as I stepped on the line. I thought too many things. I wanted to make that first shot because in the second one the pressure would be worse. It was that moment. It was that shot. Thank God the ball went in,” said the youngest Vargas brother.

“I was always aware of what that throw meant. I saw my teammates on the bench and saw that they were supporting me, and that calmed me a bit. I visualized things. I saw the team parading in Rio, I imagined my country's people being happy, I imagined my family’s joy. When the shot went in, I gave thanks. Then I failed the second one on purpose so that time would stop running,” he added.

With that victory, the “Heroes of Mexico” were born and are now next to the “Heroes of Portland” — the generation of Carl Herrera, Yván Olivares, Gabriel Estaba, Sam Shepperd, Alexander Nelcha and others. A team that was coached by Puerto Rican Julio Toro and that achieved their space at the Barcelona Games in 1992 during the Tournament of the Americas in Portland. No one thought that feat could be equaled.

Of that participation in Portland, people remember that the final was battled against the epic Dream Team of Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Brid, Karl Malone, David Robinson and the rest. However, the Olympic qualifying game was also against Canada, whose pillars were Bill Wennington and Leo Rautins.

Now, the two national teams will face each other again in an important game this November 30, at Parque Miranda in Caracas. They share the Group F top spot at the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019. The winner will not only be named the absolute leader of its bracket, it will also be a step away from achieving the World Cup ticket.

FIBA