Mendoza: "Our speed will be a key factor against Canada"

MIAMI (United States) – One of the matchups that attracts the most attention in the second window of the Americas Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is the one between the Dominican Republic and Canada. Both are undefeated in Group C and will meet this Saturday, February 26, at the Palacio de los Deportes de Santo Domingo to determine the Group leader.

The Dominican team, at home, will have its entire arsenal available, including Rigoberto Mendoza, who was unable to perform in the first window due to commitments in the G League with the Mexico City Capitanes.

“ "I am quite happy and motivated to be back with the national team", Mendoza said.

"In addition to being able to play at home in front of the family, sharing with them after being apart for so long," added the shooting guard who averaged 11.3 points and 1.7 steals in the affiliate league of the NBA. “For me it is always good to be here because every day I am more surprised by the talent that is being developed in the country. Without a doubt it makes the decisions of the coaching staff of which 12 - players that are going to be on the roster difficult. Everyone has to be ready.”

Mendoza, like the rest of his teammates, know that the matchup against the Canadians is a very important one to have a chance to advance to the second phase and he believes they have to go out and impose their style of play.

“It will be an extremely difficult game, for first place in the group. I think we will have to be focused for the 40 minutes, make few mistakes. That is where we need to focus more. We need to run a lot. Our counterattack and speed will be a key factor in that game. Hopefully we can take advantage of that.”

What he says makes a lot of sense. In the first two games of these qualifiers, the Quisqueyans ran the court and scored an average of 23.0 fast break points per game and 42-points in the paint. If they can continue to win those two categories, they could make it very difficult for the North Americans.

Back to the big stage

The athletic guard in previous international competition with the Dominican Republic has shown that he can score and that he can also play well on defense. At the 2019 World Cup in China, in 22.8 minutes per game he averaged 8.0 points and 3.6 rebounds. Completing the path gain to the world event in 2023, is one of the things that he most longs for.

“I think that in the Dominican Republic we have everything to keep the dream of continuing to attend the World Championship. We have a group that can still achieve great things. It would mean a lot to me to be there again."

Mendoza even goes further and believes that the talent that is emerging right now in his country could even take them to the Olympics at some point, something they have never achieved.

“We have a new generation that has been rising at a high level and they are developing very well. A great job is being done in the national team in its training categories at all levels.”

In fact, he urged the youth of his country to look to the example of the Indiana Pacers' Dominican rookie, Chris Duarte and to work no matter what the conditions.

“Duarte is a source of pride for me and for all Dominicans, especially for the young people who want to get to the level where he is. He is the example that if you put your mind to it, you can get there and without making much noise. That's what he did and I think that's what makes him great. Nobody knew anything about Duarte. He came to the national team trained with us, but we didn’t know anything about him. Mainly I had never heard that he had the talent to reach the NBA and when the bomb exploded, well, all eyes focused on him and that's when we realized that yes, Chris really had the talent to be there. That is what makes him greater, that he arrived and nobody predicted it before.”

FIBA