By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Renaldo Balkman is set to join Puerto Rico’s training camp for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, FBPR announced. He accepted the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation’s invitation and is expected to travel with the national team to China next Thursday.
The 35-year-old last played for his country in the 2016 pre-Olympics qualifying tournament, previously represented Puerto Rico in several FIBA competitions. Balkman is a veteran of 229 NBA games up to 2012, has since displayed his talents in his homeland, the Philippines, Mexico and Venezuela.
He will shortly join Emmanuel Andujar, Christopher Brady, Gary Browne, Gian Clavell, Ramon Clemente, Devon Collier, Jorge Bryan Diaz, Alexander Franklin, Ivan Gandia, David Huertas, Javier Mojica, Isaiah Pineiro, Carlos Rivera and Angel Rodriguez, current members of Puerto Rico’s preliminary squad.
Next week, Eddie Casiano’s team will travel to China for the last set of friendly matches. Official World Cup games will kick off on August 31st versus Iran, matches against Spain on September 2nd and Tunisia on September 4th will follow. Group C with Puerto Rico will take place at Guangzhou.
Photo Credit: FIBA