Hello, good day to this prestigious sports community. Today I want to share an event that shook the national sports environment, in regards to BASKETBALL.
It all started in the year 1992, when very few knew our national basketball, from a very young age I liked sports, especially Basketball at that time I was 21 years old, I always liked to play, I felt each triumph of the national team, as well as I It was very sad when we lost, I remember that Venezuela's participation was at dawn and there I was aware of my Venezuelan team.
For any fan of Venezuelan basketball, 1992 is a special year: it was that year when the so-called “Heroes of Portland” were born to give the national team an Olympic tint for the first time. And this coming July will mark 29 years of this great feat, which took them to the Barcelona Olympic Games. Already in May 1991, it was Venezuela's turn to debut as the venue for the South American Basketball Championship, where our team would be titled as champion after winning a tough final to the always favorite Brazil. I remember that we went with a group of friends to the Mercedes to celebrate that triumph, a triumph suffered hard, hey we beat Brazil always favorites with an excellent squad.
Our selection was hungry, this would only be the beginning of the story; the triumph gave them the classification to the 1991 Pan American Games, where they finished in sixth position, in addition to this event being their passport to reach the 1.992 Portland Pre-Olympic Tournament.
Venezuelan Bascketball Team Year 1.992
Venezuela already had its first NBA player named Carl Victor Herrera Allen, champion in the NBA on 2 occasions with the Houston Rockets, his height is 2.06 m and he was selected in the NBA Draff in 1990.
1st Venezuelan player to step on the boards of the
Carl Herrera
In charge of the Puerto Rican coach, Julio Toro, the squad was integrated by Carl Herrera Rostin González, Victor David Díaz, Nelson Kako Solórzano, Iván Olivares, Gabriel Esto, Sam Shepherd, Alexander Nelcha, Luis Jiménez, Omar Walcott and Melquiades Jaramillo arrived at his engagement in Portland, with every eye in the world on the United States team.
The Dream Team, led by Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and company, was the rival in the final. Despite the efforts of our Venezuelan team, the United States ended up crowning after a 127-80, on July 5.
The event took place between June 27 and July 5, 1992. The first match against Uruguay 110-97 ended in victory for the Venezuelans, who could not repeat against Brazil and Puerto Rico, who dominated them 128-81 and 91-80, respectively. Against Mexico, the game would be key because it meant advancement of the round: the Venezuelans got it 88-85.
From there they won against Canada and later took revenge on the Brazilians in the semifinals (which they played on July 3) to get into the fight for the continental title. It was precisely in the duel against the Canadians, on July 2, that they were among the four best teams in America and made sure of their presence in the Olympic Games.
Even with the defeat, Venezuela kept the silver and, for the first time, Venezuelan basketball secured a ticket to the Olympic Games. Already in Barcelona 1992, the national team would have a discreet performance, with a 2-5 record and in 11th place. It was a triumph-flavored defeat that we had with the dream team.
Alexander Nelcha, a warrior in the heights
Then we had to wait 23 years for another achievement for our Venezuelan basketball.
Euphoria and joy was what was experienced in the country on the night of September 12, 2015, when everyone saw how the "Gloria al Bravo Pueblo" rumbled at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico, after the Venezuelan team of basketball will be crowned in the FIBA Americas pre-Olympic.
Fiba America Champions Year 2.015
The 12 Heroes of Mexico that made up the feat were: Miguel Marriaga, Gregory Vargas, John Cox, David Cubillán, José Vargas, César García, Javinger Vargas, Miguel Ruíz, Windi Graterol, Heissler Guillent, Dwight Lewis and Néstor Colmenares. Directed by Argentine Néstor ‘Che’ García.
These 12 warriors took over that scenario and prevailed with a great victory against Argentina with a score of 76-71, thus they wrote a new page in our basketball. As I told you, I am a lover in all the sports where my beautiful Venezuela participates and when we won, I don't even tell you, this was a triumph with sports revenge since the Argentine team said some shocking words, they were not a humble team, I am one of the people who think that in all sport there should be sporting respect for the opponent.
It was quite an important feat, we just didn't qualify for the Olympics, but the first time we were champions of America. For me they were overwhelming achievements in our Venezuelan basketball, that is why my basketball team of the year 1992 and 2015 are heroes, the players won those championships with a lot of sacrifice, we Venezuelans should feel extremely proud of these warriors.
In closing I want to thank Read. Cash Sport for the opportunity they give us to present my publication, it is an excellent window to make known important figures of Venezuelan sports, in my case they were two sporting events that marked a before and after in Venezuelan Basketball, for the followers and passionate about this sport, I hope I have given you a reading of remembrance of that golden age, in my case I really enjoyed preparing this publication.
