Belize versus Venezuela; hoop dreams at the City Center

The basketball team which is ranked at number twenty-three in the world by the International Federation of Sports, is in Belize tonight.  Venezuela’s national team is preparing right now for what is expected to be one of the most exciting games that will be played locally for 2010.  The two friendly games with Belize’s national team will be the first test of the readiness for our boys before they head to the Centro Basket Tournament in the Dominican Republic. The team landed at the Philip Goldson International Airport this morning and according to Gabriel Sanchez, the first secretary of the Venezuelan Embassy, he’s betting on his national team to win. The players themselves are looking forward to being good ambassadors of Venezuela.

Gabriel Sanchez, First secretary Venezuelan Embassy.

gabriel sanchez

“They have a lot of experience, they have been in tournaments in several countries. They’re just coming form panama and they’re going to some other countries to keep on playing. And these guys are very tall, they are very young, they are very smart too, and they’re very qualified.”

Jose Sanchez

“So, you’re sure we’ll have some good games tonight and tomorrow?”

Gabriel Sanchez

“Yeah, sure, well unfortunately we’re gonna beat Belize but that’s how it goes. Basically , what we’re trying to do here is to share our experience and knowledge in the game so that Belize can get more techniques and can improve their game too, their playing. And also Venezuela because we’re gonna learn too.”

jesus

Jesus, Venezuelan Basketball Player

“We haven’t heard a whole lot; but I know they’re a fast team, they always play a hundred percent. It’ll be a tough game for us.”

Jose Sanchez

“The team came in second in the COCABA games in Cancun last year; it’s a veteran team, some new players, some old players. They say they‘re they gonna give you a challenge.”

Jesus

“That’s what we’re looking for, that’s why we’re here. Like you said, they’re a mix between veterans and new players, so that makes the team more difficult because you have the hunger of the young players mix with the veterans that teach them how, like the old school basketball and stuff. It makes them a lot more difficult to beat a team like that.”

Jose Sanchez

“And how do you and your team members feel to come and help my national team to prepare for the games they’re leaving for this weekend?”

Jesus,

“We’ll that’s, we’re in preparation too. So, we’re looking to play very hard and we’re still looking for our chemistry. We’re trying to look for what kind of team we have right now. So, that’s like, the way you do that is playing hard like trying to find what kind of team you have. That’s playing hard and just giving all you have in the game.”

Jose Sanchez,

“What have you heard about the Belizean team?”

David Cubillianm , Venezuelan Basketball Player

“No much, we don’t play in the same. They play in the Caribbean and they play Caribbean teams. So, I haven’t heard much. We’re excited to play them. You know, we just coming back from Panama and we looking forward to having a nice two game series against them.”

Jose Sanchez

“So this is preparation for both Belize and for Venezuela for upcoming games, where do you move on to after you leave Belize?”

David Cubillianm

“We going back to Venezuela and then after that we gonna play a South American tournament in Colombia and then that’s about it. I don’t know about Belize, I think they’re going to a tournament the fourth or something like that. We just trying to get ready for the South American Tournament.”

Jose Sanchez

“Daniel, what have you heard about Belizean team?”

Daniel Seoane, Venezuelan Basketball Player

“Not that much, I know they have a couple of good players. I don’t know if they playing this year with the team. I know Milt Palacio. I know Alex Carcamo. I don’t really know I expect like a very athletic team, young. I expect Belize to have a good team.”

Jose Sanchez

“How does it feel to help us prepare our upcoming games, this weekend in the Dominican Republic?”

Daniel Seoane

“It feels pretty good. You know cause facing this kind of team that gonna play against other good teams in Centro Basket like Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Panama. They gotta be good. That’s good for us too cause at the end of the month we’re gonna play the South American championship in Colombia. So, we’re preparing that too. We expect to have two good games.”

If you’re wondering about the broadcast of these games on this station, well that won’t happen because of a decision taken by the Belize Basketball Federation not to allow the games to be televised. More on this later in the newscast.