Flames basketball player leads Puerto Rico U19 team at FIBA World Cup in Egypt

Liberty University men’s basketball point guard Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz will be one of two captains for the U19 (under 19) Puerto Rico national team as it competes in the July 1-9 International Basketball Federation (FIBA) U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 in Cairo, Egypt.

Past players participating in this prestigious tournament include Stephen Curry of the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors representing the United States, Puerto Rico’s JJ Barea from the Dallas Mavericks, and former NBA Champion Pau Gasol from Spain.

Puerto Rico will be in Group B along with Germany, Lithuania, and host Egypt, Puerto Rico’s first opponent on Saturday.

Pacheco-Ortiz has established himself as one of Puerto Rico’s rising stars after helping it to qualify for the FIBA U17 World Cup for the first time in 2014.

“It means a lot to me (and) I always thank God for giving me another opportunity to represent my little island,” he said. “I am very excited to have the chance to throw on my island’s colors for the second time in the FIBA World Cup.”

The native of Ponce, Puerto Rico enjoyed an exceptional freshman season with the Flames, earning Big South Conference All-Freshmen team honors after averaging 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.6 assists while leading Liberty in total minutes played (1,086).

Read the full story on Liberty’s Athletics website.