ARG – Hernandez: Argentina will give everything to win games this summer

BUENOS AIRES (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez announced his preliminary squad for the South American Championship and the FIBA World Championship on Tuesday but stressed that other players could be added to the mix.
 
The country holds the number one spot in the FIBA World Rankings but will have a fight on its hands to maintain that lofty standing without Manu Ginobili, who has taken this summer off to be with his newborn twin sons.
 
"The group for the South American tournament and the World Championship is not closed,” Hernandez said.
 
“Another player could be included, depending on what happens in the tournaments.
 
"We are going to Turkey with the enthusiasm of achieving everything, with or without Ginobili.
 
“Obviously, without him it will be a very difficult World Championship because we are competing against the best teams in the World.”
 
In Turkey, Argentina play Preliminary Round games in Kayseri against Serbia, Australia, Germany, Angola and Jordan.
 
There are many warm-up games to be played before then, however.
 
The team will go on a tour in Australia and China, and Hernandez knows the games will be vital in his team’s preparations.
 
"It will be a team made up of very young players, where we will play against strong teams, such as Australia's senior side," he said.
 
As for the South American Championship, Hernandez said: "The South American tournament will be hard as they always are. Our aim is to try to be among the top.”
 
Some Argentina fans had hoped Walter Herrmann of Caja Laboral might consider a return to the national team but he has decided not to come back.
 
Still in his prime at 30 years of age, Herrmann was a member of Argentina’s Olympic gold-medal winning side at the Athens Games six years ago and then in 2006, he helped the national side reach the Semi-Finals of the FIBA World Championship.
 
"He doesn't want to play for the national team,” Hernandez said.
 
“It's not good to insist so much.
 
“I like Walter and everyone has a right to do what they want.”
 
Hernandez has a veteran team with a superstar in Luis Scola.
 
As for the leader of the team?
 
"Argentina has a consolidated group,” Hernandez said.
 
“I'm not sure if there's a natural leader. Scola, (Andres) Nocioni, (Fabricio) Oberto, Leo Gutierrez among others, give an example to the rest.
 
“On the court, (Pablo) Prigioni speaks, but he can be very quiet.
 
“But if there's anyone that speaks on the court, it's him."
 
FIBA