Puerto Rico's J.J. Barea (L) posting up against Team USA's Steph Curry. (Photo : Reuters)
Perennial contender Puerto Rico battles unheralded team Cuba in the final match of September 1 games in the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship. The Group B game is scheduled at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City.
Puerto Rico had just finished hosting the 2015 Marchand Continental Championship Cup where they placed second behind NBA players-laden squad Canada following their 78-72 defeat last Tuesday, as per CBS Sports.
The team is entering this year's competitions with the goal of replicating or upstaging their silver medal finish last 2013.
Guided by veteran mentor Rick Pitino, who was named head coach in early March of this year as reported by Sports Illustrated, the expectations are high for the current Puerto Rican team led by Dallas Maverick J.J. Barea, former NBA player Renaldo Balkman, and guard Carlos Rivera.
Meanwhile, the Cubans are returning to the tournament after being absent in 2013. Former player and now coach Daniel Scott Bryce will try to improve on their ninth-place finish in the 2011 FIBA Americas where the team was winless in four games.
They placed fourth in the recent 2014 Centrobasket Championship after being beaten by the Dominican Republic in the battle-for-third match.
However, on paper, as compared to the other teams of the current tournament, the only that Cuba would have a great chance to snatch a victory would be against Panama.
Prediction: Puerto Rico wins, 79-55
Puerto Rico starting five: Jorge Brian Díaz (C), Renaldo Balkman (PF), John Holland (SF), Ángel Daniel Vassallo (SG), José Juan Barea (PG)
Cuba starting five: Javier Justiz (C), Jasiel Rivero (PF), William Granda (SF), Yaser Rodriguez (SG), Osmel Oliva (PG)
