Guirantes: Trust was key to historic performance

SYDNEY (Australia) - History was made left and right for Puerto Rico in their opening game of the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022. For Arella Guirantes, in particular, it was such a performance that it hasn’t been done in at least 28 years.

 

The 24-year-old dazzled in her Women’s World Cup debut. Leading the team in scoring was already very impressive, but Guirantes also put up an all-around effort to nearly record the first triple-double in the Women’s World Cup since 1994 when Erica Dobrovicova put up 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists.

Guirantes ended up just short of a triple-double with "only" 26 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists (not to mention another 3 steals). Even though it was not enough for a triple-double, it was enough to make her the first player since 1994 in the Women’s World Cup to record at least 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists.

Clearly, this was one of the best individual performances ever in the Women’s World Cup and her 36 EFF confirms that. As a matter of fact, it was the third highest EFF rating in a Women’s World Cup gameover the past three competitions with only Liz Cambage recording higher EFF in a game.

For Guirantes, it’s all about trust that made this performance possible.

"It’s just about trusting my work," she said. "I know I put in work every single day and I know I’m here to make myself and my team better."

"I’m thankful that Puerto Rico is even giving me this chance to showcase that and showcase my skills on this world stage and it’s showing. I’m just happy that my work is paying off."

Aside from trusting in herself, trust within the team was also key - not only towards her performance but the team win.

"We just trusted each other and we’ve been grinding every single day in practice," she said. "It looks ugly sometimes, but I think we just took that in and realized we’re only going to move forward together. I think they showed that on the court today."

However, more than the historic personal feat, what was more important for Guirantes was just the fact that she and the team were finally able to claim their first win ever in a Women’s World Cup in a very dramatic context for the island of Puerto Rico.

"It’s just like a weight lifted off our shoulders just with everything going on with the nation, experiencing so much trouble with the hurricane," said Guirantes. "We’re really proud to leave with this win today against a really good team with solid players like Jonquel [Jones]."

"I’m just proud of the way we played today as a team."

FIBA