The tour of the Colombian National Team begins in China: What games will play?

The Colombian team, in its departure towards China.

Photo: Fecophecesto

Colombia's men's basketball team has already arrived in Asia and is ready to play the four -nations international tournament in Zhuji, China.

Although it is not an official tournament, nor did the main team that will face the American American in Nicaragua, the expedition led by coach Iván García arrived at the Asian giant with the aim of representing the country in the first international fogueo of a new litter. This tour can define the last quotas of the national team for the continental tournament and, above all, open roads for the future of Colombian basketball.

“The challenge is to bring the methodological processes that we have worked or that we have developed in the Professional League of Colombia, and put them together of the international context,” Coach García told El Espectador, who knew how to be a champion in the Professional League with Caribbean Storm of San Andrés and today leads this expedition as commissioned by the coach of the main team, Tomás Díaz.

“It is not the same context as that of the League, we have it clear, but if we generate a methodology in the detection of talent, in the choice of players, in the planning of their methods and training mechanisms, we will achieve very quickly to advance and show that progress significantly,” he told this newspaper.

Zhuji, Montenegro and Egypt: the first test

Colombia will play on June 27, 28 and 29 in front of the teams of Egypt and Montenegro, in addition to the Zhuji Basket Club, in two high -level scenarios: the coliseum of the Agricultural University of Zhejiang and the Hailiang Foreign High School. This development tour will be extended until July 15 and, according to the Colombian Basketball Federation, “it is part of the strategic planning to strengthen the international fire and the competitive process prior to the Americanup.”

This international trip is given after last year a news hit the national basketball, when a False selection passed through an official team and traveled to represent the country in a tournament in Russia. The news went around the world and marked a precedent.

“What happened in Russia did not like us very well, it was not something well received. That is one of the great aspects in which we focus on the responsibility we carry as men, to have a representation that is not only worthy: it has to be an honorary representation, a representation that marks a guideline in the growth that Colombia has had,” said coach Garcia.

And he added: “We know that we have an athletic talent accumulation, but we need to develop a structure that can take that talent, bring it together, develop it and put it at the service of our selection.”

Young talents and open radar

The objective, beyond the result, is to evaluate players and consolidate a group with a vision of the future. Among those summoned there are two names that especially attract attention for their international projection: Luis Fernando Finol Arroyowho plays at the United States Academy NBA, and Nicolás Alexander Acosta Saezwho plays in Union County College. On them, Garcia affirms: “They are boys who are showing the development that we want, that starting point. And the most important thing is that they have expressed that desire to be in the National Team. In previous times that did not generate so much pleasure for the athletes who were in the United States. At this time there are some who could not come, but who want to be. In fact, we received messages from Jaret Teheran Valencia, the son of Álvaro, the son of Álvar. provision'”.

The coach also emphasizes that the “radar is very wide” and that they are even looking for “those players who have links or possibilities of having Colombian nationality even if they have not come to the country, but that they have a bond for father or mother.”

Minota, Valencia, White: The names of the League

The tour also allows to evaluate the best young talents of the National League, such as Sebastián “El Piti” Valenciaappears in Caimanes del Llano, or Darwin Blancowho had his best season with Pirates from Bogotá. “They are guys that we want to look and put to compete immediately,” says Garcia. They are also Alejandro Minotawhich comes from playing abroad, and other outstanding names such as Juan José Lozano y Andrés Mauricio Salazar.

Three or four players could leave this tour for the payroll for the continental tournament. Garcia says it frankly: “The idea is that from here some three or four boys can come out who can be with the main group in the American.”

A connected coaching staff

Garcia assumes this project as part of an evolving gear within the coaching staff of the National Team. “At the moment Coach Guillermo Moreno took a step to the side last year through different personal situations. Tomás Díaz had been rowing for a long time. And we have generated an evaluation process from what we had with Guillermo, which was very valuable. The contribution and game dynamics that Thomas handles, and the group management, that synergy, we are bringing it to this team.”

According to the coach, this tour not only responds to an immediate tactical need, but is part of a medium -term vision: “Tactically, we are very aligned, generating a process of traceability between what is being structured in the major selection, in this selection that we are going to take to China and in the minor teams. In that way, we are predicting that in a short or medium time we will have a unified identity of work to be up in international tournaments. ”

THE OTHER BATTLE: Grow the League

The bottom of this whole process is broader. For Colombia to grow as regional power, you need to strengthen its league. “The dream of all of us is a longer league, which can have a professional development of players,” says Garcia. “Because having such so short episodes, players do not dedicate themselves 100 % to basketball. I know that from the Federation and from the professional basketball division there is will, but we need to specify with the arrival of private companies and public contributions.”

The goal is clear: “We want a great quarry like Argentina has it, as Brazil has it. They are leagues of eight or nine months. We have to focus on the national product, on the product we have at the local level, and from that product to be able to add all those talents.”

A tour to look further

For three weeks, the selection will travel various cities of the Asian giant. After Zhuji and the initial tournament, the team will pass through Nanjing, Shandong, Jiaozuo, Leshan and Yulin. In that way he will face not only Montenegro and Egypt, but also to clubs of the Chinese Professional League (CBA), such as Shandong and Sichuan, and will have a luxury closure against Serbia.

It will not be easy. But as Garcia summarizes, “the responsibility we carry is not just competing: is to build a selection that grows, that represents with honor and opens the door for those who come.”

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