TEAM COMPOSITION

Puerto Rico are making their fifth appearance on the World Grand Prix stage as the team look to improve on their 18th place finish a year ago. In their three outings before that they came 10th in 2009, 11th in 2010, and 13th in 2012. Vital experience and knowhow is being gathered by competing regularly against elite sides in the World Grand Prix and at the World Championships, where the Puerto Ricans have placed equal 10th, equal 15th and equal 17th in their previous three appearances.

They have enjoyed better results in continental competitions. They finished in third place at the 2009 Pan American Cup and came fifth last year. They also finished fifth at the 2011 Pan American Games in Mexico. They took the silver medal at the 2009 NORCECA Championship, came fourth in 2011 and claimed bronze last time round. Veteran Aurea Cruz is a key player for the team. She played at the University of Florida where she established many school records and was inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame. She won a silver medal at the 2012 Club World Championships playing for Azerbaijani club team Rabita Baku.

Jose Mieles was installed as Puerto Rico coach last August following the resignation of predecessor Rafael Olazagasti. Mieles worked as the national team’s statistician and as assistant to Olazagasti at their campaigns at the 2013 World Grand Prix, China International Tournament and Pan American Cup before his promotion to the top job. As coach of women’s club team Leonas de Ponce, he has guided his charges to the Puerto Rican championship title in the last three seasons. He was named the league’s coach of the year in 2012 and 2014.