Havana, March 2 (RHC) – The Cuban national basketball team will face their Uruguayan counterparts today after suffering a defeat against Panama (81-84) in their debut in the qualifying round for the FIBA World Cup Qatar 2027.
Regarding this first match at the Roberto Durán Arena in the capital, local media outlets are reporting on the arguments presented at the press conference by coach Osmel Planas and captain Reynaldo García.
According to reports, in that difficult match at the home of the hosts, the Caribbean team rallied in the second half, but failed to secure the victory.
One of the key factors highlighted by the coach was the difference in free-throw shooting, an aspect that ultimately tipped the scales in a close game.
The coach of the largest of the Antilles also commented on the impact of playing at home, a factor that, in his opinion, directly influenced the course of the game.
According to these reports, the visiting team showed two different sides on the court: they allowed 29 points in the first quarter and were forced to play catch-up for much of the game. However, in the second half, they managed to adjust, primarily through their defense.
For his part, García opined that they were more aggressive on defense, pressuring the point guard, which forced turnovers and allowed them to run the floor. “Little by little, we chipped away at the deficit,” he noted.
Despite the defeat, both the coaching staff and the players insisted that the team still has options in the qualifiers and stated that the challenge against Uruguay is key.
Uruguay, the Caribbean team’s opponent, took the lead with a perfect record after defeating Argentina 61-44. Argentina will host Panama in the next round.
In other results, Brazil secured its third victory and leads Group C after beating Venezuela 94-84, while Colombia defeated Chile 86-78 to take second place.
The first round of Americas qualifying will conclude in July, and the top three teams from each group will compete for the continent’s seven spots in the FIBA World Cup Qatar 2027.
