PUR – “One on one” with Carlos Arroyo

LAS VEGAS (FIBA Americas Championship) – Puerto Rico didn’t have a good tournament until today. They qualified thanks to Argentina’s victory over Panama, getting in the second round with just one win. Carlos Arroyo, with 11 points, was one of the stand outs in the victory.

Is this one of the most important victories in your career?

It’s an important victory for us, because everyone knows that we weren’t ourselves during in the first round. Thanks God, we had the chance of playing in the second round and to be able to begin it the way we did, will give us confidence and hope.

How does a game like this happen?

Everyone understands the opportunity basketball is giving to us and we want to make the most of it.

Did you suffered after yesterday’s game against Argentina?

We suffered a lot, more than in other game we have played here in Las Vegas.

Why did you play the way you did in the first round?

I don’t know, maybe we never get our game rhythm…I don’t know. The ball wasn’t going in; our defense was bad, we were making a lot of turnovers. To have the chance that we had today, we have to pay attention to the ball possession and rebound. Everyone contributed to the victory. Filiberto Rivera gave us a great hand in the first half, while Angelo Reyes had a tough assignment in Nene and he did a great job. Peter John Ramos also helped us a lot at the beginning, and Larry Ayuso with his shots…we moved the ball, and everyone did a great job.

There is a great deal of responsibility on your shoulders for not turning the ball out.

A lot of pressure; I understand that it starts with me; because I need to control the ball and understand that every possession counts.

The people in Puerto Rico, after the Marchand Cup, didn’t have many expectations from the team.

Well, we always had higher expectations from ourselves. It’s been always like that.

Fabian Garcia
FIBA Americas