ARG - Scola thinks with caution about 2009 FIBA Americas Championship

BUENOS AIRES (2009 FIBA Americas Championship) - Argentinean national team and Houston Rockets center, Luis Scola, analyzed with caution the teams for the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship that will be played in San Juan, Puerto Rico from August 26 to September 6.

Scola didn't offer any guarantees about Argentina being in the top 4 in order to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

"I have the outmost respect for this tournament. It is not a World Championship or an Olympic, but I put it the same as the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas. It will be very difficult, there are well built teams," said Scola to La Nacion.

"Brazil goes with everything. I talked to Tiago (Splitter) and he told me that he would go; I also talked to Leandrinho (Phoenix) and said the same. Dominican Republic announced Trevor Ariza, Villanueva and all their NBA players. Puerto Rico will be a strong team with a mix of players with experience in Europe and the United States,"

"Mexico is always strong; Uruguay is a team that I like how they play and make it a tough game for us. You always have to respect Canada. We can lose with anybody. Nobody guarantees that we can reach the FIBA World Championship and I am not even sure that we can get invited," Scola said.

Argentina has many key losses like Manu Ginóbili, Fabricio Oberto, Andrés Nocioni and Carlos Delfino who has a right shoulder injury.

"There are many important players that won't come, but we knew so we will play with the available ones, taking the tournament as a great challenge and giving everything to qualify."

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.

FIBA Americas