00:02Four years ago, Arella Garantes was one of the breakout stars of the FIBA Women's World Cup,
00:08leading Puerto Rico to its first ever victory and its first quarterfinal berth.
00:12Gets it to the hot hand, Garantes!
00:16And what a game this woman has had, folks.
00:19Number 22.
00:22Now, she has grown into one of the team's leaders,
00:25fulfilling the expectations that head coach Jerry Batista had for her.
00:30She's a great player.
00:32I think she can do all the things, defense, offense.
00:37She has a great IQ in the game.
00:39She's always, like, talking to her players, talking to the teammates,
00:44talking about what is happening in the court.
00:47And she's a scorer.
00:49In our test, quick pull, indeed.
00:53Rhinosoma 2.
00:55Garantes and Puerto Rico have continued to grow.
00:57She helped the team qualify for his second straight Olympic Games,
01:01secured with a crucial win over New Zealand to earn their place in Paris.
01:06Garantes behind the back, driving on McGoldrick.
01:09Tamila there to help, but it doesn't matter!
01:11That is clutch from Arella Garantes!
01:14That's why she is known to be a superstar of that team,
01:18the go-to player out there.
01:21It's a blessing, honestly.
01:23Whenever we put this jersey on, I just take so much pride representing the country of Puerto Rico
01:28and just serving all these hard-working women around me.
01:33They come to play.
01:35Garantes pulls up, knocks it down!
01:38And even during the tougher times, the progress has been clear.
01:42Despite going winless in Paris, they pushed Serbia and Spain all the way,
01:47losing those two games by a combined four points.
01:51Garantes on the baseline.
01:53Top moves, counted, and a foul!
01:56And though they missed the semifinals at last year's FIBA Women's America Cup
02:00for the first time in a decade, edged out by Argentina,
02:03there were strong performances from Garantes and Maya Hollingshed,
02:07while Trinity San Antonio continued her progression
02:10from promising youngster to reliable contributor.
02:16Puerto Rico's focus now shifts to the next major step,
02:20reaching another Women's World Cup.
02:22And this time, they'll be trying to do it on their home floor,
02:26hosting one of the qualifying tournaments in San Juan.
02:31The Puerto Ricans tip off against Eurobasket bronze medalist Italy,
02:36then face reigning world and Olympic champion United States
02:39and Eurobasket silver medalist Spain,
02:42before two potentially pivotal clashes
02:45against Afrobasket semifinalist Senegal,
02:48and then a rematch with New Zealand.
02:52It's a challenging group,
02:53but it's also a chance for Garantes and Puerto Rico
02:56to show their home fans how far they've come
02:59and to create another memorable moment.
03:02Garantes spinning, flopping, and dropping.
03:05For all the latest on the road to the FIBA Women's World Cup,
03:08head to FIBA.Basketball.
03:11Garantes, and that's what we know that she can do.
03:14She's got the strength.
03:15She's got the high IQ.
03:17Garantes is just dangerous right now.
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