ARG - Argentinean preselection trains in Bahia Blanca

BUENOS AIRES (2009 FIBA Americas Championship) – The Argentinean preselection is training in Bahia Blanca in preparation for the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship to be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico from August 26 to September 6.

Their first warm up game will be on Thursday, July 30 against Australia.

The players practicing under head coach Sergio Hernandez are: Juan Pablo Figueroa and Juan Pablo Cantero (Atenas de Córdoba); Juan Manuel Fernández (Temple, USA), Paolo Quinteros (CAI Zaragoza, Spain), Diego García (Burgos, Spain), Sebastián Vega (Peñarol de Mar del Plata), Matías Sandes (Fuenlabrada, Spain), Axel Weigand (Alicante, Spain), Federico Kammerichs (Regatas Corrientes), Fabricio Vay (Arkadia Traiskierchen, Austria), Luis Scola (Houston Rockets, NBA), Leonardo Gutiérrez (Peñarol de Mar del Plata), Leonardo Mainoldi (Fuenlabrada, Spain), Andrés Pelussi (Libertad de Sunchales), Federico Aguerre (Argentino de Junín), Román González (Quimsa de Santiago del Estero) and Juan Pedro Gutiérrez (Granada, Spain).

"We are going to prepare the best way possible and we will face the tournament with great responsibility. We know that it's not going to be easy but we trust our team," said Hernandez to CABB.

Meanwhile CAI Zaragoza shooter Paolo Quinteros said: "Being in the national team is something to be proud of and I take it with responsibility, I am happy to be here."

Pablo Prigioni and Carlos Delfino haven't reported yet to the team. Prigioni is negotiating a deal while Delfino is recuperating from a shoulder injury.

Argentina is in Group B along with Brazil, Dominican Republic, Panama and Venezuela. Group A has Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and Uruguay. The top 4 at the end of the tournament qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.


FIBA Americas