20 January, 2017
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8 Cristian Cortes (MEX), 47 Kenji Urdaneta (VEN)
21/02/2017
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Cortés: "We reach the Semi-Final Phase at a very good moment"

MONTERREY (DIRECTV Liga de las Americas) - During the Group Phase of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas, Fuerza Regia proved why the team is considered as an early favorite to reach the Final4 of the continental competition.

The team coached by Francisco "Paco" Olmos won Group B while suffering the absences of prominent players like Gabrile Giron and Adam Zamora.

In addition to having a roster full of big names, Fuerza Regia reaches the Semi-Final Phase of the LDA at a great moment, having dominating Santos of San Luis in a 3-0 series win in the playoffs of the Mexican National League.

The Monterrey team has a lot of depth, with great contributions from a second unit that includes point guard Cristian Cortés. The 26-year-old cannot hide his optimism about the opportunities for Fuerza Regia and points out that the team arrives in better shape for the Semi-Final Phase. However he also acknowledges that the group will be very demanding and complex.

You must be pleased that the team is recovering some injured players as it enters the Semi-Final Phase.
We arrive at a very good moment. We recovered Adrián (Zamora), a very important player who offers an alternative to what [Jeleel] Akindele or Adam Parada input in the game and that also gives us a new substitution and a great level in the paint. Unfortunately we will not have Gabriel (Girón) as he was reinjured and his recovery will last a couple of weeks, so he won't be able to play. Gabriel is not only a very important player in our system but also a leader. The team will feel his absence. But fortunately we have [Aaron] Fuller back. That's why I'm confident that we will be very good at this Semi-Final Stage.

What do you think of the group with Soles (MEX), La Unión (ARG) and Guaros (VEN)?
It's going to be a tough group. We already faced Guaros and Soles and we know their potential. I know La Unión de Formosa very well because I played with several of their players. It is a team that in the last two years has performed very well in the National League.

What does the team need to do to improve in the Semi-Final Phase?
There are always things to improve. We are currently in a moment where, because of the number of games, we haven't trained. So we are focused on physical recovery and the details that Paco (Olmos) marks in the videos, so that in the next game we can improve and continue to grow in our system.

What would it mean for Fuerza Regia to reach the Final4 for the first time?
It would mean an enormous joy that would write a new page in the history of this club, that has several years of fight in Mexican basketball. We, as a team, do not think about that, we go game by game and try to carry the same mentality and commitment always.

FIBA