By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
After missing the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Jose Alvarado made his return for the Puerto Rican national team ahead of this year’s FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament held at home in San Juan.
Playing in two games at the American Qualifiers, one of those by contributing to a 97-87 win against Mexico, he averaged 21.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 5.5 assists for the national team.
The New Orleans Pelicans guard was included in Nelson Colon’s 12-man official list for the tournament, playing against Italy and Bahrain in Group B, while Lithuania, Mexico, and Ivory Coast will be playing in Group A. Unlike his brother Jordan, Baskonia‘s Markus Howard won’t be available.
Puerto Rico’s full roster for the FIBA OQT in San Juan:
Tremont Waters, Jose Alvarado, Jordan Howard, Gian Clavell, Stephen Thompson, Isaiah Pineiro, Davon Reed, Aleem Ford, Chris Ortiz, Ismael Romero, Arnaldo Toro, George Conditt IV.
Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 hoping to fulfil a dream in front of home crowd 💭#FIBAOQT pic.twitter.com/aZPeD1IsUG
— FIBA (@FIBA) June 18, 2024
The Philippines also made their 12-man roster clear for the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, where they will go up against the host Latvia and Georgia, with Cameroon, Brazil, and Montenegro participating in the other group.
Playing in Manila in front of his people in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, Utah Jazz‘s scoring guard Jordan Clarkson won’t be playing for the national team this summer. Kai Sotto, instead, has been included and will try to lead the Asian side back to the Olympic Games.
PHOTO CREDIT: 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers