SAN DIEGO – Former Torero and current Sacramento Kings forward Isaiah Pineiro was one of 12 players selected to Puerto Rico's final roster for the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the team announced today. 

Pineiro, a two-time All-WCC first team selection and NABC All-District honoree while at USD, and the rest of the Puerto Rico team will begin their pool play in the 32-team tournament on Saturday against Iran (1:30 a.m. PT). All World Cup games will be streamed live on ESPN+.

A native of Auburn, California, Pineiro's grandparents were born in Puerto Rico, which makes him eligible for national team competition.

"Representing Puerto Rico is a great honor and privilege," said Pineiro. "To be able to represent my country and island in any game is an incredible opportunity, but for my first time to be in the World Cup, on such a big stage, is amazing. Making the 12-man roster is a dream come true. A few years ago, no one could have said that this was going to be possible. But through relentless work and with the help and support of my wife, family, friends and coaches, the dream has become a reality."

Pineiro and Puerto Rico will play in Group C in the opening round. The group also includes Spain, Iran and Tunisia. The top-two finishers of Group C advance to face the best two-placed teams from Group D, which includes Angola, Italy, the Philippines and Serbia.

Pineiro started all 36 games last season for the Toreros, averaging a team-best 18.8 points and 9.4 rebounds per game. He also set the school record for points in a single season with 677, while along the way helping lead the Toreros to their first NIT appearance in program history.

In his two seasons at USD, Pineiro placed in the WCC's top-10 in scoring and rebounds and helped guide the team to its first ever back-to-back 20-win seasons.

After going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, Pineiro signed a contract with the Sacramento Kings in July after playing for the organization's California Classic and MGM Resorts NBA Summer League teams this past summer. He averaged more than 4.0 points and 2.0 rebounds in both circuits.

On the line for Puerto Rico in the 2019 FIBA World Cup is an automatic qualifying spot to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. There are seven teams -- two from the Americas, two from Europe and one each from the Africa, Asia and Oceania regions -- that will qualify for the Olympics based on their finish at the World Cup.

Puerto Rico enters the World Cup slotted at No. 16 in the latest FIBA World Rankings.

 

Puerto Rico - Group C Pool Play Schedule

Date	Opponent	Time	Watch
Saturday, August 31	vs. Iran	1:30 am (PT)	ESPN+
Monday, September 2	vs. Spain	5:30 am (PT)	ESPN+
Wednesday, September 4	vs. Tunisia	1:30 am (PT)	ESPN+

 

Future Rounds of Play
Second Round - September 6-9
Quarterfinals - September 10-11
Semifinal - September 13
Bronze Medal Game - September 14
Championship - September 15