Development a priority for Argentina’s Seigorman

VALDIVIA (FIBA Americas U18) - Argentina will debut at the FIBA Americas U18 Championship on July 19, with the intention of having good performances, but player development is another clear objective.

Although Argentina won the title in the 2008 continental tournament, in the last three editions of the event they did not get on the podium, but at least the team qualified to the U19 FIBA World Championship in all of them, allowing greater chances of development the players.

Coach Maximiliano Seigorman will lead the Argentine team and assures that the priority is to qualify to the 2017 FIBA U19 World Championship.

"Because of the achievements made in recent decades we have the responsibility of putting the country on the highest place possible and try to qualify for the U19 World Championship. With this new process of forming national teams with taller players, as it has been demonstrated in recent months, above the immediate results, the obligations are to represent Argentine basketball in the best way," said Seigorman to FIBA.com.

On the features that this generation of players, the Argentine strategist said that "we will try to be strong in defense, with commitment in protecting our boards and be very supportive to run offense. This team may present an average height in accordance to the international competition, something we consider a valuable step forward."

The Argentine squad suffered a significant loss with the absence of forward Santiago Vaulet, who suffered a serious injury playing for Bahia Basket in Argentina’s National League.

"The absence of Santi Vaulet will be felt in the group, because he has grown with his passage through the Argentine National Teams and because of the level he showed in the National League. However, we have a very supportive and strong group, that has been strengthened, despite his absence," said the coach.

Argentina will be part of a very demanding Group A, along with Canada, Brazil and the Dominican Republic.

“It’s a tough group, with very competitive teams and players who are already participating in professional teams. We must think of Canada as first objective and then work on each of the following games," added Seigorman.

For a couple of years Argentina has stepped up the task of developing the lower categories of National Teams, pointing to a generational change that will allow the country to remain competitive. About the place that has this generation has in the future of Argentine basketball and on what can be expected from this group, the coach was confident.

"We hope that many of these guys can have a nurtured career so they can help the adult National Team. Argentina is working on strengthening its projection as to the size of its players and that takes time. We want Argentine basketball to systematize this project and improve the physical capabilities of the players, which is one of the deficits in these categories," concluded the coach.

FIBA