FIBA Americas - A level playing field

CARACAS (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - There are plenty of questions heading into the FIBA Americas Championship, but also some guarantees.

One certainty is that four national sides will qualifying for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Another is that some truly inspirational players in international hoops will be on show, like Argentina's Luis Scola, Brazil's Marcelinho Huertas and Puerto Rico's Carlos Arroyo and Jose Barea.

A third is that some of the top coaches in the sport will be pulling the strings for their respective squads, like Ruben Magnano of Brazil, Julio Lamas of Argentina, Jay Triano of Canada.

There are many more unknowns ahead of the 10-team event that will be held in the Poliedro, the very arena where last year's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament was staged.

Can Mexico live up to their billing and challenge for one of the World Cup places?

Are Canada a poor side after losing all four games at last weekend's "Tuto" Marchand Cup in San Jose, and are Puerto Rico as good as their four victories in the same tournament suggest?

Has Argentina's strong showing this summer without Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni and Carlos Delfino been a true indicator of their potential?

Every national team goes into the FIBA Americas Championship with a big question mark hovering above it.

The most pertinent for all coaches, players and fans is the one that deals with the World Cup.

"Is our team," everyone is asking, "good enough to make it to Spain?"

Venezuela, the host nation of the FIBA Americas Championship, really liked their chances of making it to next year's hoops extravaganza a couple of months ago yet the absence of Greivis Vasquez has cast doubt on their participation.

Ditto for the Dominican Republic, who won't have NBA superstar Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks.

Both sides, along with Puerto Rico, also go into the tournament with new coaches.

Orlando Antigua was promoted from the assistant position he had the past couple of years under John Calipari to the top job, and Argentinian Nestor 'Che' Garcia has replaced American Eric Musselman at the helm of Venezuela.

The Boricuas are now coached by Spaniard Paco Olmos instead of Flor Melendez, a switch that place just several weeks ago and surprised a lot of people.

Puerto Rico big man Renaldo Balkman, who has been carrying some knocks this summer, believes the team is in fine fettle and ready to do something special.

"I feel really good," Balkman said.

"We're finally here. I am healthy and hoping to have some luck. I'm ready to start, anxious. We have a great team."

Venezuela have attempted to make up for the loss of Vasquez by naturalizing at the last minute Donta Smith, a small forward who won this season's Israeli league crown with Maccabi Haifa.

Smith, who contributes in a myriad of ways, played in Venezuela's league before.

To make room for him, Venezuela cut guard Jhornan Zamora.

"It's hard because you want to play for your country," Zamora said. "I was there from the first day and I know the decision for the coach wasn't easy, because we all gave everything.

"For my part, I wish the best for the team. I still feel part of the team.

"It's not wrong that he has been nationalized. I'm grateful that he wants to play for the country and has come to help."

Huertas says the FIBA Americas Championship is going to have a level playing field since all of the countries are missing prominent players.

Tiago Splitter, Leandro Barbosa, Anderson Varejao and Nene are four NBA stars that represented Brazil at the Olympics who aren't able to help out this time.

"We're a team that combines experience and youth, but all players are fully adapted to the way coach Magnano works," he said.

"The 10 friendlies we've played so far have allowed us to review and fix the details for the FIBA Americas Championship. You can not pinpoint a favorite (in Caracas) since the 10 teams have the same goal.

"What I can guarantee is that we have come to get a place at the 2014 World Cup and to fight for the title."

Brazil, winners in 2009 and runners-up two years ago are in Group A with Canada, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Uruguay, while in Group B are Argentina, Mexico, Paraguay, the Dominican Republic and Venezuela.

On Friday, the event starts with a game between Jamaica and Canada, two sides that met twice earlier this summer with the latter winning both.

Argentina will then be prohibitive favorites in the next game against Paraguay.

A mouthwatering clash is to ensue between the Brazilians and Puerto Ricans, with Venezuela taking on Mexico in the last game on opening day.

Uruguay and the Dominican Republic play their first games on Saturday against Jamaica and Argentina, respectively.

FIBA