ARG – Jasen focused on Argentina and Turkey 2010 despite ankle problem

BUENOS AIRES (2010 FIBA World Championship) – Opportunities to represent Argentina in international basketball don’t come around often so veteran Hernan Jasen is trying to take advantage of his chance despite being bothered by an ankle injury.

The lynchpin in Spanish ACB side Estudiantes is contending for a spot in the national team, aided in part by San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili’s decision not to play at the FIBA World Championship.

But Jasen, 32, must first must prove his fitness.

"I've been doing rehabilitation for a couple of weeks and strengthening my ankle and the results are very good,” Jasen said.

“I don't think I'll have to undergo surgery and I will be able to start from the beginning of (national team) training (July 26).

“With this ankle, I've had sprains that have not been cured properly and two years ago I underwent surgery.

“This season, I've had pain.

“The club will respect my decision and although I put my health first, I see myself well and that gives me a lot of enthusiasm to play in the World Championship."

Jasen averaged better than 13 points and four rebounds per game for Estu, who had a very good season in the Spanish ACB.

The Madrid outfit finished seventh during the regular season before losing to eventual champions Caja Laboral 2-0 in the play-offs, including an 85-83 home defeat in Game 2 of that series.

Argentina, meanwhile, have sent a team to China and Australia with those players hoping to impress and earn a place in the national squad for Turkey.

Those players, who are being led by coach Nicolás Casalánguida, are Nicolás Aguirre, Jonatan Treise, Nicolás de los Santos, Matías Nocedal, Leonel Schattmann, Sebastián Vega, Federico Aguerre, Nicolás Romano, Pablo Espinoza, Alejandro Alloatti, Pablo Orlietti and Diego Romero, the brother of Argentina’s starting goalkeeper at the World Cup in South Africa, Sergio Romero.

Argentina lost two friendlies in China and are now travelling to Perth to take part in the Boomers World Challenge.

FIBA