Rebuilding Cuba move into the bright lights of World Cup Qualifiers

Cuba have not played at a FIBA Basketball World Cup since 1994 in Canada, when they twice beat rising African powers at the time, Angola, and also Korea but finished 15th out of 16 teams.

They haven't made much noise on the international stage since, but that's going to change in November when Cuba and 15 other teams in the Americas begin playing in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.

The aim for each will be to reach the 32-team World Cup in China. For Cuba to meet that goal, they'll have to come up with some big wins.

Javier Justiz will take center stage for Cuba in the World Cup Qualifiers

To advance from the First Round, teams must finish in the top three. Cuba will need to get at least one victory, if not two, and they are in arguably the toughest of the four four-team qualifying pools, Group C, with Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States.

"We're preparing for it (Qualifiers) right away," Cuba Basketball Federation president Ruperto Herrera said to FIBA.com. "We know it's a very difficult group because of the quality teams that are in the pool but we're going to try to make a great effort. We're optimistic that we can progress to the next round."

For us, it's important to host games. Because of financial problems, Cuba has not hosted basketball events for some time but now the fans are going to have the opportunity to watch the national team play international games.

Herrera

Cuba will open their campaign at Mexico on 23 November and three days later host Puerto Rico. The home game against the Boricuas, and the ones against Mexico on 26 February (2018) and the United States on 1 July (2018) have the potential to be major events in the country. 

"For us, it's important to host games," Herrera said. "Because of financial problems, Cuba has not hosted basketball events for some time but now the fans are going to have the opportunity to watch the national team play international games."

The Cuba national team does not have a high profile in the region like it once did.

When Herrera played, they were among the best teams in the Americas. He was in the Cuba sides that captured the bronze medal at the 1972 Olympics and finished fourth at the 1974 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Herrera, who averaged 17.4ppg when Cuba were seventh at the 1976 Olympics and then 14.4ppg in the team that came in sixth at the Games in 1980, was inducted into the FIBA Hall of Fame in 2015.

Cuba legend Herrera, seen here with FIBA President Horacio Muratore on the occasion of his induction into FIBA's Hall of Fame in 2015

In recent times, Cuba's star has not shone as bright. They were in Mexico City two years ago at the FIBA AmeriCup and lost all of their games.

They crashed to heavy defeats to Canada, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Argentina. Their performance at the Centrobasket, however, was good enough to claim a spot in the World Cup Qualifiers. Herrera says Cuba have "discreet potential".

"We are in the process of renovation," he said. "We have players with options and we are in the process of trying to rediscover the results that we achieved in previous years." 

One of the biggest and brightest talents is 2.04m power forward Jasiel Rivero, who averaged 18.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in Mexico City.

Rivero, now 23, has been hurt and did not play at the 2016 Centrobasket in Panama.

"Jasiel Rivero has been injured and is recovering but we hope he'll be there," Herrera said. "He's young, but he's an important player."

Two others that could have important roles in the team come November are Javier Justiz and William Granda.

The former, a 24-year-old center, averaged a team-high 14.4ppg at the Centrobasket.

"Right now he's playing in the Argentinian league," Herrera said. "He's our main star. He's in a very good development process of results. We hope that he'll join the national team and help us achieve good results."

Granda, 31, brings experience. He was the team's second leading scorer at the Centrobasket, where he averaged 13.4ppg.

"We hope that William Granda, as well as Jasiel Rivero, will take part in the national team," Herrera said.

Herrera says the team will have a new coach this year.

"Daniel Scott, who coached the national team for 10 years, is no longer in the role," Herrera said. "We have a group of coaches and we have not chosen who our next coach will be but we hope to appoint one this month."

FIBA