ARG - Santín puts London hopefuls through their paces

BUENOS AIRES (FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women) - Players vying for spots in the Argentina squad that will compete at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women in Turkey have gathered at the CeNard (Centro Nacional de Alto Rendimiento Deportivo) in Buenos Aires to begin working out under coach Roberto Santín.

The Argentinians will compete against New Zealand and the Czech Republic in Group B of the 12-team OQT, which runs from 25 June to 1 July in Ankara.

The training camp will run from Monday until Saturday, although not everyone is in attendance.

Among the missing are Agostina Burani, Melisa Pavicich and Melanie Soriani, who are on the books of the Club Atlético Lanús side that is taking part in the Sudamericana de Clubes.

Also away is 36-year-old veteran Carolina Sanchez, who is on the books of Spanish side Orion in the Liga Femenina 2.

Argentina reached the Final of the FIBA Americas Championship last year before losing to Brazil.

Five places for the London Games are up for grabs at the OQT.

If they advance to the Quarter-Finals and beat either Turkey, Japan or Puerto Rico, Argentina will progress to the Olympics.

Argentina could still lose that game, however, and advance if they were to win two more games.

Both of those contests would be against losers of other Quarter-Final ties.

Argentina squad training this week in Buenos Aires: Sandra Pavón, Marina Cava, Melisa Gretter, Natasha Spiatta, Brenda Schmidt, Ornella Santana, Johana Puchetti, Rocío Díaz, Diana Cabrera, Macarena Rosset, Mara Marchizotti, Victoria Llorente, Emilia García, Zulema García, Sofía Aispurúa, Julieta Armesto and Natalia Teodori.

FIBA