DOM - Santana ready and willing

SANTO DOMINGO (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Everyone is waiting and hoping in the Dominican Republic that arguably the best player ever to hail from the country, Al Horford, will play at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship.

One of the leading big men in the NBA with the Atlanta Hawks, Horford has been the Dominicans' top player the past few years but he has yet to confirm that he will play this summer.

The 2.08m center said on an NBA promotional trip to London just several days ago: "At this moment I haven’t decided if I’m going to play or not.

"I’m in a position where I’m doing a lot of events like this around the world with the NBA.

"And I have some other possible commitments in Africa around the time of the FIBA Americas.

"So that puts a bind on me playing for my country. And I have about a week to make my decision."

A "yes" or "no" should can be expected from Horford any day now.

A player who is closer to the end of his career, Edward Santana, has spoken of his desire to play this summer at the FIBA Americas Championship, which is being staged in Caracas, Venezuela.

Santana, 32, has played professionally in the country and would love to help the Dominicans claim a top-four finish to qualify for next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup.

He was recently named in the preliminary squad.

"For me, it's always an honor to be called," Santana said.

"It's good that they value your work and I would be happy to wear the (Dominican) shirt. The country should be at the top of basketball."

What do the Dominicans need to clinch a top-four finish and make it to Spain for the FIBA Basketball World Cup?

"All we have to do is get the chemistry that may not have prevailed in other events. If we are able to think of what counts is making it to Spain, no one can stop us."

FIBA