Posted: Jun 15, 2012 5:43 PM by Bill Halter
Former Cal Poly men's basketball player Amaurys Fermin will play for the Dominican Republic National Team. Fermin, who was born in the Domincan Republic and lived their until he was seven, has dual citizenship. The point guard becomes the first Olympic athlete in Cal Poly men's basketball history.
Fermin missed the first half of the Dominican Republic's Kentucky-based training camp to finish school and graduate from Cal Poly with a degree in history. He joins a team that includes Sacramento Kings guard Francisco Garcia and Atlanta Hawks center Al Horford. The Dominican Republic is coached by Kentucky's John Calipari.
Fermin saw his first action with the national team on Wednesday in an exhibition game against a collection of NBA Development League players. Fermin came off the bench to score seven points, grab six rebounds and dish five assists in a 101-97 overtime victory. Fermin hit two late free throws to help ice the Dominican Republic's victory.
To qualify for the London Olympics, the Dominican Republic will have to earn one of three qualification spots at the 12-nation FIBA World Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The tournament is July 2-8 in Caracas, Venezuela.
The Dominican Republic won the bronze medal at last year's FIBA Americas Championship.
Fermin started all 33 games for Cal Poly this past year and finished second among Big West Conference players with 3.61 assists per game. He was second on the team with 9.8 points per game.
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