The score of the Dominican Republic’s first game in the FIBA Olympic Qualifier taking place 2-7 July in Greece, does not tell all the story. Egypt (ranked 40th by FIBA) opened with an eight-point lead. The DR team (ranked 19th) trailed in the first quarter by six points, until 20-year old Jean Montero began using speed to compensate for the extra heights of the Egyptian players.
In its story on the game, FIBA called Jean Montero “a lightning bolt,” as he maneuvered the plays to help his team to a 90-77 victory over Egypt during the Pireau, Greece qualifier. Montero would enter the team late in the first quarter and FIBA reports that he immediately showed why he is a two-time winner of the Spanish Liga Endesa’s Best Young Player award.
FIBA wrote: “Jean Montero changed the game completely coming off the bench. He spent 26 minutes on the floor, collecting 17 points on 8-of-17 shooting from the field, and he also had 5 rebounds and 4 assists.”
Montero’s speed turned him into a blurry figure that the Egyptian defense was not able to locate and stop, as he tortured them with his drives and offensive rebounds – the 190cm (6ft 3in) tall point guard picked up three offensive rebounds in the first half alone, powering the Dominican Republic to a 27-9 second quarter.
Andres Feliz was also especially influential in the game as the starting point guard with 9 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Chris Duarte also got into double digits with 14, Victor Liz had 12, Angel Nunez 11.
The DR’s former national team members, NBA players Karl Anthony Towns and Al Horford did not join the qualifying effort, but the showing in the team’s first clash in Greece was convincing. By winning the game, the DR team consolidated its placement as one of the top 20 basketball teams in the world, according to the FIBA ranking
Team players on the roster in Greece are veterans Víctor Liz and Eloy Vargas, Jean Montero, NBA player Chris Duarte, Andrés Feliz, Ángel Núñez, Luis Santos, Adris de León, Danny Carbuccia, Antonio Peña, Eddy Polanco, Yeikson Montero, Adonys Henríquez and Miguel Simón under Coach Nestor (Che) García.
The DR will now play hosts Greece (ranked 14th), with Milwaukee Buycks’ power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo on its team on Wednesday, 3 July.
The Dominican Republic is seeking to accomplish an “impossible feat” and qualify for the first time for an Olympic Games. The team needs to finish in the top two of their group in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying to advance to the knockout stage.
The games can be seen on TV in DR on CDN Deportes, Channel 8.
The two best teams from Group B will compete in the semi-finals with the two teams from Group A formed from Slovenia (with NBA star Luka Dončić), New Zealand and Croatia.
Only the winner of the qualifier will get the slot to compete in the Olympic Games.
Read more:
FIBA
Egypt vs DR game highlights
CDN Deportes
Montero when he led the country to the World Cup
DR1 News
3 July 2024