00:00Four years ago, Arella Garantes was one of the breakout stars of the FIBA Women's World Cup,
00:06leading Puerto Rico to its first ever victory and its first quarterfinal berth.
00:11Gets it to the hot hand, Gidantes, and what a game this woman has had, folks.
00:18Number 22.
00:20Now, she has grown into one of the team's leaders,
00:23fulfilling the expectations that head coach Jerry Batista had for her.
00:29She's a great player.
00:30I think she can do all the things, defense, offense.
00:35She has a great IQ in the game.
00:38She's always, like, talking to her players, talking to the teammates,
00:42talking about what is happening in the court.
00:46And she's a scorer.
00:48Gidantes, quick pull, indeed.
00:52Rhinosoma 2.
00:53Garantes in Puerto Rico have continued to grow.
00:56She helped the team qualify for a second straight Olympic Games,
01:00secured with a crucial win over New Zealand to earn their place in Paris.
01:05Gidantes behind the back, driving on McGoldrick.
01:08Tamila there to help, but it doesn't matter.
01:10That is clutch from Arella Gidantes.
01:13That's why she is known to be a superstar of that team,
01:17the go-to player out there.
01:20It's a blessing, honestly.
01:21Whenever we put this jersey on, I just take so much pride representing the country of Puerto Rico
01:27and just serving all these hard-working women around me.
01:32They come to play.
01:34Gidantes pulls up, knocks it down!
01:37And even during the tougher times, the progress has been clear.
01:41Despite going winless in Paris, they pushed Serbia and Spain all the way,
01:45losing those two games by a combined four points.
01:50Gidantes on the baseline.
01:51Tough move, count it, and the foul!
01:54And though they missed the semifinals at last year's FIBA Women's America Cup
01:59for the first time in a decade, edged out by Argentina,
02:02there were strong performances from Gidantes and Maya Hollingshed,
02:06while Trinity San Antonio continued her progression
02:09from promising youngster to reliable contributor.
02:15Puerto Rico's focus now shifts to the next major step,
02:19reaching another Women's World Cup.
02:21And this time, they'll be trying to do it on their home floor,
02:24hosting one of the qualifying tournaments in San Juan.
02:30The Puerto Ricans tip off against Eurobasket bronze medalist Italy,
02:35then face reigning world and Olympic champion United States
02:38and Eurobasket silver medalist Spain,
02:41before two potentially pivotal clashes
02:43against Afrobasket semifinalist Senegal,
02:46and then a rematch with New Zealand.
02:50It's a challenging group,
02:52but it's also a chance for Gidantes and Puerto Rico
02:55to show their home fans how far they've come
02:57and to create another memorable moment.
03:01Gidantes spinning, popping, and dropping.
03:03For all the latest on the road to the FIBA Women's World Cup,
03:07head to FIBA.Basketball.
03:10Gidantes, and that's what we know that she can do.
03:12She's got the strength.
03:14She's got the high IQ.
03:15Gidantes is just dangerous right now.
