Venezuela is one of the most deserving national teams for the fact that Argentina will not play at the FIBA World Cup.
In the madness of the American qualifiers last round, the group led by Facundo Campazzo remained in shock. In addition to the merits of the national team for which Karl Anthony Towns will perform, they also go to Venezuela largely.
FIBA World Cup – Venezuela: Previous editions and the best results of the national team
This will be Venezuela’s fifth appearance at the FIBA World Cup. They made their debut in 1990, only to wait 12 years for their next appearance. Then they played in two consecutive big competitions, which they managed to do now after being part of the World Championship in China four years ago.
Venezuela recorded their best result in 2019. They lost the opening game against Poland. Then they won against the Ivory Coast and China to qualify for the second round. There was the end of the road for them after defeats by Argentina and Russia, for 14th place in the world.
FIBA World Cup – Venezuela: Road to Mundobasket
Venezuela finished the qualifiers first round at 5-1, as did Argentina. They left Panama and Paraguay behind. The victory by 71:58 in Buenos Aires turned out to be decisive at the end of the qualification. Although they lost 69:66 to Argentina on their floor, they had a better H2H.
After Argentina and Venezuela carried over five wins to the next stage, it was expected that they would easily qualify for the FIBA World Cup. Nevertheless, the competition was fierce and before the last round, both selections were at 8-3. Under normal circumstances that would be more than enough for them to qualify. However this time that was not the case.
Six national teams from two groups fought for the five remaining places. Three best placed teams were advancing from both groups, as well as the fourth, which is better than the fourth-placed team from the second group. Mathematically, each of the six teams (Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic) had a chance to stay without the ticket for the Mundobasket. In the end, Argentina was the unlucky one.
In the last round, Venezuela played at home versus Canada, and Argentina hosted the Dominican Republic. The only scenario in which Venezuela would be eliminated was the one where they would lose to Canada by 20 points more than the Dominican Republic lost to Argentina.
In theory, any defeat by less than 21 points guaranteed a trip to the FIBA World Cup for Venezuela. Canada defeated them by 74:57, while a sensation happened in the second game. The Dominican Republic not only did not lose, but defeated Argentina by 79:75, which launched them to second place (9-3). Venezuela and Argentina were at 8-4, but due to the already mentioned better H2H, Campazzo, Deck, Laprovittola and rest of the squad remained below the line.
Interesting fact: Argentina would have qualified as a better fourth-placed team if anyone from the trio of the second group (Brazil, Puerto Rico, Mexico) had lost that night. However, Brazil beat the USA, Mexico defeated Uruguay at road, while Puerto Rico outplayed Colombia.
FIBA World Cup – Venezuela: Roster and focus on those who are expected the most
There are nine players over the age of 30 on Venezuela extended roster. Seven of them are older than 33. This means that they are the oldest national team that will compete in Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines.
This team should perform at the FIBA World Cup in the same roster as it was during the qualifiiers. Five players played all 12 games, while six of them missed only one match.
Three of them recorded double-digit numbers on average. Michael Carrera led Venezuela with 11.6 points and six rebounds. Shooting guard Jhorhan Zamora had 10.9 points with 50% shooting from the field.
The third is power forward Nestor Colmenares who contributes with 10.3 points and 6.4 rebounds. That makes him the best rebounder of this team. Also, Colmenares makes the most three-point shots in this team, as many as 7.8 per game with a respectable 48% shooting percentage.
Garly Sojo is scoring nine points and adds a little more than four rebounds per match. There are also David Cubillan, Miguel Ruiz, Windi Graterol, Pedro Chourio and Heissler Guillent. Gregory Vargas records the most assists (4.6). He also adds eight points per game.
FIBA World Cup – Venezuela: More about head coach – Fernando Duro
Fernando Duro is an Argentinian who is Venezuela head coach since 2017. His entire career is related to the aforementioned two South American countries.
He only managed clubs in Argentina and Venezuela, some of them being Boca Juniors, River Plate, Gimnasia, Quimsa, Guaros de Lara, Ciclista Olimpico and Obras Sanitarias.
However, he left the biggest mark in the national team of Argentina as the right hand of the legendary Ruben Magnano. He spent more than four years as an assistant from 2000 to 2004, and single-handedly led the national team to the 2004 South American Championship title.
In the same year when the famous generation consisting of Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni, Luis Scola, Fabricio Oberto and Pepe Sanchez won the Olympic Games, it was Duro who was right next to Magnan on the bench. He also worked with him in the national team of Brazil, before taking over Venezuela.
Duro was also at the head of this national team four years ago in China, when one of the best results in the history of Venezuela was achieved.