The Colombian Basketball Team is making the illusion come true. After four straight losses at the start of the 2023 World Cup qualifiersthe team spins an undefeated three wins that has them with options to qualify with five games to go.
In the countdown, the game this Monday in Barranquilla against the United States (7:40 pm, DirecTV Sports), the power of the discipline, is presented as the ideal opportunity to strike a blow that reaffirms the desire to qualify for the contest for the first time.
Colombia, experienced team
On the local side, the combination of the experience of men like Juan Diego Tello and the talent of younger figures like Brian Angola, Andres Ibarguen and his own Jaime Echeniquewho joined in this last window, represents the main weapon to achieve a historic victory against the North American team.
“In the team there is a lot of unity right now. After beating Chile, Brazil and Mexico we are much more powerful, we come with more hunger and we feel very proud to wear the Colombian jersey. This opportunity is unique because we have been able to gather our best pieces,” forward Luis Almanza tells EL TIEMPO,
fundamental piece of the recent 93-89 victory over Mexico, in Chihuahua.
“Today we hope to have the sixth man, which is the people, who have always supported us in Barranquilla, to make a good presentation against the United States and obtain the result that we all want,” he adds.
On the opposite front, USA brings a litter that, as is natural in the qualifiers, does not integrate great stars of the NBA. However, his squad does have men who play or have played in the biggest basketball league on the planet. Among them, the base David Stocktonson of legend John Stockton and who has had minutes with the Sacramento Kings and the Utah Jazz.
“Although we are kind of a senior team, our success is explained by the way in which we in the country take these qualifying games seriously. The organization works all year round to unite the squad to be effective when it comes to international matches,” Stockton tells this newspaper.
Although the United States starts as the great favorite, it has already shown that it is not unbeatable on this World Cup road. In November, in the same coliseum in which Colombia has just won, they fell 88-97 to Mexico. However, Stockton says, they’re not going to give up another surprise.
“Sometimes it is complex to describe what happens in these games. The teams play with a lot of energy and the public also does its part. Colombia is a difficult team. They have great youth talent and many variants. They play very intense, they never slow down and they are very tough on defense. We have to be ready to counter their energy and go ahead with our game plan to win”, explains the man who currently plays for the Memphis Hustle, of the US G-League.
Colombia, for the feat
In the Colombian team, the feat of beating the United States is not impossible, because now their faith is driven by reality. And that motivation, the players say, there is no one to take it away from them.
“We all have the dream of going to the World Cup. We know that it is something that is achieved through the process, and the process is paying off right now. Faith is never lost, the one who has faith will always stay focused on his purpose. God is the only one who knows if we are going to be in the World Cup, but we can be, we can be. The important thing is to believe that we can do our best to achieve it, and we believe it”, he concludes. Louis Almanza.
Andres Felipe Balaguera Sarmiento
Sports Writer EL TIEMPO
@balagueraaa
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