Will Jasiel Rivero, Cuba achieve at home what they couldn’t in the first qualifiers window?
MIAMI (United States) – Cuba failed to win either of their two matches in the first window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Americas Qualifiers held in Mexico. However they have reason to be optimistic in Group D.
Despite carrying two losses, Cuba left a very good impression. They only lost by 5 (95-90) against the United States and by 9 (69-60) against Puerto Rico, and in both games they were dominant most of the time. They will now have the opportunity to bounce back at home against Mexico and Puerto Rico, as the games will be held at Ciudad Deportiva de La Habana, between 24 and 28 of February.
Jasiel Rivero, the leader of the Cuban team is averaging 22.5 points, 10 rebounds and an efficiency of 23.5, is confident that they can play a better role in front of their fans.”We showed improvement and I think we can continue to grow,” said the 28-year-old center.
“There are going to be very tough games, as always, but now at home we can have that momentum to get some wins because we will have many people supporting us. The most beautiful thing in life is having your people and family there supporting you,” he added.
Taking the lead
Rivero currently plays for Valencia in Spain, he recently won the Basketball Champions League title and the Intercontinental Cup with San Pablo Burgos. He has become one of the benchmarks of basketball on the island, something he didn’t think was possible.
“I never imagined that I could be in the position that I am in now. My development as a player was not easy. I started playing between the ages of 11 and 12, we didn’t have many resources but we worked with a lot of intensity and desire. The truth is that being here did not cross my mind because in Cuba sports are not professional, no one is thinking about those things. But I have always dreamt of playing in the NBA,” he said.
As he waits for that opportunity, he remains focused on continuing to improve and trying to elevate his country’s game, which after being one of the region’s powerhouses, has suffered in the last two decades.
Good feelings about the future
The 2.04m player who is averaging 10.4 points and 4.7 rebounds this season in Spain’s top league hopes there will be a rebound in Cuban basketball now that the current generation of players has had the opportunity to play in foreign leagues.
“There has always been a lot of talent In Cuba. We were at a good level in the past, and now we are trying to recover. I think we needed more training and good games at the international level. Now that several players have been given the opportunity to go abroad, we have taken a very important step. I think we are on the right track. I see the players with a lot of improvement and with a lot of desire to take the team forward”.
Finally he added: “Hopefully we can go back to the times when we dominated our region. The key to continue growing I think is that players continue to go to other leagues. The more they are abroad, the more things we will learn,” he concluded.
FIBA
