listens to him Chris Duarte He put on quite a show in an impressive debut before the Dominican public, this Monday night at the Palacio de los Deportes Virgilio Travieso Soto.
the player of the NBA of the Indiana Pacerswas seen by his audience by presenting credentials with the national basketball team for seniors in the warm-up game that they beat Saint John’s University 93-84.
The native of Puerto Plata was the best scorer of the game for the Quisqueyans, scoring 29 points and making those present enjoy a quality game.
“Coming out victorious is the most important thing,” Duarte commented when asked about the expectations he has for the game against Panama next August 25 at the Palacio de los Deportes.
Duarte suffered an injury at the beginning of March, which prevented him from fulfilling his responsibilities with the Indiana team in the basketball of the NBA.
“I hadn’t played for a long time, I didn’t feel nervous, because this is what I live for, but I’m out of shape and that’s why I decided to play today and continue preparing not only for the national team, but for the NBA”Duarte commented on the impression of playing for the first time in the main basketball arena in the country.
In his first season in NBADuarte appeared in 55 games, scored 13.1 points per game, with 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists, and his performance in the first part of the season had him in talks for the league’s Rookie Player of the Year award.
“My goal was to play 22 minutes, but it got a little out of hand, the emotion of the game and the adrenaline enveloped me, but I have to understand that and be professional”Duarte pointed out when asked if he had any limitations in playing time for the match.
top scorers
Andrés Féliz followed Duarte with 12 points, Jhery Matos 10, Jassel Pérez nine and five catches, and Brayan Martínez also nine with six catches.
For Saint John’s, center Joel Soriano, of Dominican origin, scored 22 points and 16 rebounds for a double-double, his compatriot David Jones 14 points and Posh Alexander 13 baskets.
Duarte’s official debut will be on Thursday the 25th of this month when the Dominicans face Panama in the second phase (4th window) of the 2023 Basketball World Championship Qualifier, at 8:00 p.m., on the same stage.
Saint John’s has two players of Dominican origin on its squad, center Joel Soriano and shooting guard David Jones. From that academy came Luis Felipe López, from Quisquey, who played in the NBA for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Washington Wizards and Vancouver Grizzlies, now from Memphis.
Soriano was born and lives in New York City and is the son of Dominican parents, while Jones is born and raised in the Guachupita sector, National District, developed in the National Team Project of the Dominican Basketball Federation (Fedombal).
Visit ends this Tuesday.
With this Monday’s game against Saint John’s, and on Tuesday against Trenes del Este (a team from the first division National Development League U22) and Fordham University, at 1:00 in the afternoon, at the Leo Tavárez sports center in Higüey, conclude the blank meetings of four American universities that included Kentucky and Arkansas State.
Uribe exchanges jacket
Rafael Uribe, president of the Dominican Basketball Federation (Fedombal), exchanged jackets with Saint John’s University athletic director Mike Cragg prior to the start of the friendly.
Uribe highlighted the friendly exchange that the national senior team held on Monday night with that North American academy of higher studies and thanked him for the visit to the country and for having taken them into account.