Best performers of FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament

MEDELLÍN (Colombia) – Puerto Rico’s Arella Guirantes was the most outstanding player of the FIBA Women’s Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament that concluded on Sunday at Coliseo Iván de Bedout in the city of Medellin, Colombia. The shooting guard was one of the main engines behind her country obtaining one of the two tickets to the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, to be played in February of 2024.

Guirantes, who’s by now used to dominating every time she puts on her national team’s jersey, had a 22.7 efficiency rating throughout the 3 games of the tournament.

The 26-year-old, currently playing for Beretta Famila Schio in Italy, averaged 25 points per game to lead the event (shooting 43 percent on three-pointers) and added 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and a pair of steals.

Center Kayla Alexander and forward Laeticia Amihere led Canada to a 3-0 record and a berth in next year’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.

Alexander averaged a double-double (10 points and 10 boards) while shooting 64 percent from the field and finished with a 17.3 efficiency rating. The veteran was instrumental in generating extra possessions for her team, collecting 4.7 offensive rebounds per game.

Amihere was also unstoppable in the paint and came just shy of averaging a double-double. The 22-year-old, who plays for Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, had a 16.0 efficiency rating after averaging 9.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks.

Forward Aguehil Fajardo has been one of the fastest rising players out of Venezuela in recent years and once again proved herself at this event. The Lavovi (Bosnia) player did a bit of everything for the Venezuelan cause, producing 14.3 points, 8.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and a block for a 17.3 efficiency rating.

Rounding out the list is Colombia’s Yuliany Paz. At 23-years-old, the center has been establishing herself as one of the continent’s best at her position and wrapped up a dream year after winning women’s Liga Sudamericana de Clubes the Women’s Basketball League Americas. On this occasion, she boasted a 15.7 efficiency rating after averaging 9.7 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks.

FIBA