Mexico Lives! and Finished in Texas A&M Where He Stayed Is One of the Main Options in the Offense After the Until 2004
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FIBAAMERICAS.COM Special issue 05 Feature Uruguay depends on Garcia to reach their FIBA World One of the new stars in Uruguayan "The transition that I make is natural, I always try 2009 FIBA-Américas Championship August 30, 2009 basketball is shooting guard Leandro Garcia to make the role that they give me and help as much Morales, developed in Uruguay and the as I can," said Garcia Morales, who was the main United States, being their key shooter in this shooter in Bigua but in Venezuela he was a role player tournament that qualifies the top four to the in a team coached by Néstor Salazar in the 2010 FIBA World Championship. Professional League. Garcia Morales studied in Lynn University In the FIBA Americas Championship, Garcia Morales Mexico lives! and finished in Texas A&M where he stayed is one of the main options in the offense after the until 2004. After finishing his NCAA retirement of shooter Nicolás Mazzarino. commitment, Garcia Morales made his debut "The transition is always tough when somebody with Bigua in the Uruguayan league where leaves and when I came from the bench the team he was an impact player, averaging 26.4 had more depth. Now with his exit, I am the main points in 21 games. After averaging 27.8 shooter and we have less weapons." points the next season, he was signed by Uruguay continues to play hard every night thinking Casale Monferrato in the second division in about the FIBA World Championship despite all the Italy and he also played for Echague Racing problems that they had in their preparation. in the Argentinean TNA. "Qualifying for the FIBA World Championship will During the years he was also an import be one of the most important accomplishments in in Venezuela for Cocodrilos de Caracas and our history. Our main objective when we came was Iran where he played for Saba Mehr, one of Leandro García: the new offensive engine for Uruguay to beat US Virgin Islands and Mexico. The next thing the main teams in the country. His next is to qualify for the FIBA World Championship," said commitment is in Mexico with league champions Halcones de Xalapa and the player who averages 14.7 points per game. will be joining his head coach in Bigua, Argentinean Néstor "Che" García. turkey2010.fiba.com Mexicans Gustavo Ayon and Horacio Llamas stop Reggie Freeman in their win 80-63 Foto: José Jiménez/FIBA over the US Virgin Islands. GLOBAL PARTNERS US Virgin Islands is eliminated without knowing to win. Group Standings MAIN SPONSORS schedule Sunday 30 Group a G W L Pts group B G W L Pts 1:30 URU vs MEX PUR 3 3 0 6 BRA 3 3 0 6 4:00 BRA vs PAN CAN 3 2 1 5 DOM 3 2 1 5 URU 3 2 1 5 VEN 4 1 3 5 Javier Otero - Director of Communications FIBA-Américas Luis Modestti - Communications José Jiménez - Photography 6:30 ARG vs DOM ISV 4 0 4 4 ARG 3 1 2 4 STAFF Chu García - Editor Albert Ortiz - Communications/IT Assistant FIBA-Americas photo Archive Fernando Luis Rolón - Creative Director Néstor Rodríguez - Eligibility & Doping Control and El Nuevo Día newspaper 9:00 PUR vs CAN MEX 3 1 2 4 PAN 3 1 2 4 05 Did you Know? Mexico advances to the second round If history defines the future, as some modern philosophers claim, Puerto Rico may be defeated by Canada, as the books have the Canadian winning 3-1 in World Championship qualifiers. In 1993, the Canadians won 79-76, and, in 1977, they did it again, this time, 78-77. However, in 2001, the chance for revenge came for the Puerto Ricans when they won the first game out of two that they had against the North Americans, 101-98; they lose the second one, 102-95. In 2005 in Santo Domingo, both teams did not have the opportunity of facing each other. Albeit of being skinny, Mexican shooting guard, Romel Beck, has some serious problems with his lack of discipline. As a result, yesterday he was thrown out of the National team by head coach, Arturo Guerrero, who chose to sit the player during the game against the US Virgin Islands and that, ultimately, put them in the Second Round. Beck, who is very productive in the offensive end, tends to rebel when he is wearing the national colors. In 2007, during the FIBA Americas Championship, he was suspended for two games, which coincidentally resulted in two wins for the Mexicans. Noé Alonzo: seems as if he is flying while doing a lay-up.. Photo: José Jiménez/FIBA He also abandoned teams in Puerto Rico (Morovis) and in Croatia while being an When it seemed as if the Mexicans were ready to pack their bags, they came out of nowhere to defeat US Virgin import. Islands, 80-63, who, in turn, was forced out of the competition without reaching their goal of a spot in Turkey 2010. A result that we see very often: those With five players scoring in double-digits, and point guard Omar Quintero as their top scorer with 17 points and who loose against Puerto Rico suffered the seven assists, Mexico defeated a team that looked tired and hesitant during the Refining moments of the fourth same faith on their next game. quarter. Mexico went down, 81-66, and, on the The Mexicans' game was as collective as it could be, giving sings of being a different team than the one that next day, they were humilliated by the lose by 40 against Canada during the second day of the competition. This time, they finished the game with 26 Canadians, 95-40. Next, it was US Virgin assists. Islands' turn, falling 85-74 against the locals Point guard, Martin Osimani, was the hero in the last minute of the game, with a three-point shot and two free- and 89-67 against the Canadians. throws that were enough to secure the win over Canada, 71-69, in one of the most exciting games of the tournament This bad omen may have a double logic so far. behind it: one always plays harder against The Uruguayans lead the way the first 28 minutes, but the North Americans changed to a zone defense that the local team and loses all the energy while was fruitful and that put them in front by 5 points with less than three minutes to go. Nonetheless, the South doing so. Americans' will was enough to make a final comeback to win the game. 2 05 Americas Legends Argentina survives eliminatiOn Key PLayer Photo: cortesy by El Nuevo Día. Malcom: Talent, awareness and efficiency At the end of the 70's, legendary coach Ray Nacke of Briar Cliff University in the NAIA, decided to add basketball players from Panama, reaching Sioux City in Iowa Panamian stars like Rolando Frazer, Mario Butler, Enrique Grenald, Ed Warren, Mario Gálvez and Ernesto ‘Tito’ Malcolm, full of muscle and talent. Malcolm could play shooting guard and forward, was selected by Boston with the 61 pick of the third round in the 1979 NBA Draft, but he was traded to Denver for Tom Boswell. He could not stay in the NBA and he played in Latin America, as well in the national team which he was known for being a great scorer and also his defensive value. In the 1986 FIBA World Championship, played in Spain, he was part of the Panamanian team along with Adolfo Medrick, who was later naturalized as an Uruguayan, also Enrique Grenald and Rodolfo Gill where they finished 19 of a 24 14 team field. Levon Kendall In 1985, following advice on Frazer and Butler, he played for Atleticos de San German in Puerto Rico in 1985 where he debuted with a championship while he was Since Leo Rautins became head coach coached by Flor Melendez. of Canada's National team, there is a Malcolm, who was born on July 16, 1956, played here until 1990 with averages player of great value and presence: of 13.7 points and 5.7 rebounds. Not excellent but he left a mark with his efficient forward Levon Kendall. The alumni of game. the University of Pittsburgh, with his 6'10", finished the fourth date in third place in rebounds, with 9.5 per game in the team with the best collective effort in the competition thus far: Canada is first in Photo: José Jiménez/FIBA rebounds, averaging 46.0; assists, 23.5; Canada in FIBA Americas Championships and steals, 12.0. After finishing his collage career, Kendall (World Qualifiers) went overseas to Greece, with the club Ponionios, but this year he got transferred to the Maroussi. On his only Canada has matured so much in basketball that they are doing a special program that will give participation in the Euroleague, with them sucess for two more Olympic cycles, increasing their index until 2018, for this country which Ponionios, he averaged 4.4 points and 2.7 is one of the favorites to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship. rebounds in 10 games. Nevertheless, he Their head coach, Leo Rautins, knows that without planification it will be very difficult to be a caught the eye of the local sports press, main figure in a basketball that is globalized. because of his continuous improvement, Despite that, Canada hasn't had great performances in World qualifies, never reaching better albeit of the fact that he is only 25 years than seventh place lately.