The first of Memphis’ three games of their foreign tour has them face off against the Dominican Republic National Team. This game will occur in Santo Domingo on August 2nd at 6:30 p.m. CT.
So, what can the Tigers expect out of their first opponent? And who are some key players to watch out for?
Familiar Faces
As many Tigers fans may know, the DR National Team features a familiar face in Golden State Warriors guard Lester Quiñones. The Dominican American played in a Memphis uniform for three years, from 2019 to 2022. In 81 starts and 87 games played, Quiñones tallied 876 points as a Tiger.
Quiñones, on a two-way contract with Golden State, spent most of his rookie season with the team’s G-League affiliate. Here, he saw significant growth in his game, averaging 20.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game.
He was also one of the top performers during the 2023 Summer League, averaging 22.1 points in a series of impressive performances.
Former University of Memphis G Lester Quinones (@Effort_les) BALLED OUT for the Golden State Warriors in their first game of the 2023 NBA Summer League.
26 PTS 4 REB 2 AST 10-16 FG 5-8 3PT
He showed massive improvements in creating off of the dribble and getting down hill.… pic.twitter.com/p4dGOBlEJA
Quiñones, however, isn’t the only familiar name Memphis will play against tonight.
The Tigers will do battle against one of their teammates in David Jones, a native of the Dominican Republic.
This will undoubtedly be an interesting dynamic, as the St. John’s transfer will likely see significant minutes in this contest with his shot-making prowess.
Jones, however, has yet to make it to campus for Memphis. He is expected to do so once he works out an academic situation and finalizes his credits. Before that happens, however, he will face off against his future team.
Other Notable Names to Lookout For
Tonight, the Dominican Republic’s roster will carry a selection of players that competed for the team through 12 World Cup Qualifier games. They are led by Argentinian coach Néstor “Che” García.
Here is their roster:
Here are your rosters for Memphis versus the DR National Team.
The Dominican team is led by their captain Victor Liz. He is a 37-year-old guard with 14 years of professional experience in Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic.
Liz is a four-time champion in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto, which is known as the top men’s professional basketball league in the DR. He is also a one-time champion and one-time scoring champion in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional, one of the top basketball leagues in Puerto Rico.
Liz also joined the Dominican Republic’s FIBA World Cup team in 2014.
The 6’1 veteran is an elite shooter from the outside who plays with a quick pace. He has deep range and a nifty handle, which he uses to get into the lane and finish around the rim. He also has the shooting and athleticism to play effectively off the ball, having good instincts as a cutter and the craftiness to finish around defenders.
Through 12 games played, Liz led the team in scoring with 15.7 points per game on 52.8% shooting from the field.
JEAN MONTERO
Jean Montero is a name that some Memphis fans might be familiar with.
The 6’2 guard played for Overtime Elite in the 2021-22 season, which was the league’s inaugural season. He scored 16.9 points per game, which led the league, and went undrafted in 2022. He would get signed to the New York Knicks on an Exhibit 10 deal but would play the 2022-23 season overseas in Spain.
Montero plays in the Liga ACB, the top professional basketball division in the Spanish basketball league system. This season, he won the ACB Best Young Player Award, given to a young rising star in the league.
He also impressed in six qualifier games for the Dominican Republic, averaging 12.2 points on 61.9% shooting from the field and a blistering 48% from three.
Montero will be difficult for Memphis to defend. He is a three-level scorer who plays at a breakneck pace. He changes direction quickly and is excellent at beating defenders off the bounce. Despite his size and frame, his touch and craft allow him to finish around the rim effectively.
ANGEL DELGADO
Angel Delgado is another recognizable name, this time for college basketball fans.
Delgado played for Seton Hall from 2014 to 2018 and was one of the top rebounders in the sport. His best year came during his junior season, where he averaged 15.2 points per game and pulled down 13.2 rebounds.
Delgado would sign a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Clippers after going undrafted in 2018. Like Quiñones, he spent most of his time with the team’s G-League affiliate. Here, he thrived, winning G-League Rookie of the Year honors and being named to the G-League’s First Team.
Since then, Delgado has spent stints overseas in China, Israel, Spain, and Turkey. He currently plays in the Turkish Basketbol Süper Ligi, the top professional league in the country.
Delgado has had success in 10 qualifier games with the Dominican Republic, averaging 10.5 points and 11.1 rebounds per game. Jordan Brown and the Tigers’ frontcourt could have trouble keeping him off the glass and preventing him from finishing around the rim.
Other notable players the Dominican Republic will bring to face Memphis include former Kentucky big Eloy Vargas, former Albany guard Gerardo Suero, former Oregon wing L.J. Figueroa, and current Portland Trailblazers wing Justin Minaya.
What to Expect
In front of a sold-out crowd in Santo Domingo, Memphis’ first opponent of their foreign tour is certainly no slouch.
The Dominican Republican National Team consists of a blend of players with impressive collegiate and international experience across very competitive leagues.
Memphis will have a tough task playing against a team with plenty of shot-creators. Lestor Quiñones, Victor Liz, Jean Montero, David Jones, Gerardo Suero, and more can all create their shot effectively. Meanwhile, Angel Delgado and Eloy Vargas will be strong presences in the paint.
For a primarily new team that has just come together recently for off-season practices, Memphis will be going against a team that has plenty of experience playing with one another. If Memphis is to win tonight in a hostile environment, their chemistry will be key.
However, while it may be fun to watch your Tigers play, we caution you not to take too much away from the games in this Dominican Republic tour. Games like these typically end up meaning little in the long run in terms of projecting the success of individual players. However, they are a valuable experience for a team playing with one another for the first time.
