Argentina still have a lot of room for improvement for WOQT

SAN FERNANDO (2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - One thing that the Argentines are certain of ahead of next month's FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament (WOQT) is that they are racing against the clock for the 2016 Rio Olympics and they need to speed up their game plans.

The WOQT, where 12 teams will compete for the remaining five spots for the Rio Olympics, runs from 13-19 June in Nantes, France, and Argentina still has a lot of room for improvement.

Head coach Cristian Santander is heading to the WOQT with 11 of 12 players from the FIBA South American Women's Championship where they finished a disappointing fourth-place.

Argentina roster for 2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament
Andrea Boquete	Agostina Burani	Diana Cabrera	Celia Fioritto
Debora Gonzalez	Melisa Gretter	Victoria Llorente	Sandra Pavon
Macarena Rosset	Ornella Santana	Sthefany Thomas	Gisela Vega

On Sunday, Argentina were trounced 90-48 by Australia in the opener of a three-team tournament in San Fernando, Spain.

Even the addition of Debora Gonzalez, who replaced Nadia Flores on the final roster for the WOQT, is yet to make a difference.

The team is working hard and will continue to compete because the objective - despite the South American Championship setback - remains alive. Our ultimate goal is Rio. - Gonzalez

Gonzales added 3 points off the bench as Argentina shot 25 percent from the field, while Liza Cambage paced the Australians with 23 points and 10 rebounds.

It's a matter of time, said Gonzalez who feels they are in the right direction: "We are not so bad," she said.

"The team is working hard and will continue to compete because the objective - despite the South American Championship setback - remains alive. Our ultimate goal is Rio."

Meanwhile, Santander, who described Argentina's campaign in the South American Women's Championship, as poor, remains upbeat about the team's aspirations.

"We have to improve in the next few games," he said to the Argentina Basketball Federation website.

Santander is hoping that games against Spain and Australia will steer his team for what he describes as "the most important test" to reach the Olympics.

On Tuesday, Argentina will take on Spain, who beat Australia 58-55 on Monday.

Later in the week, Santander's team will take on WOQT-bound fellow South Americans Venezuela.

FIBA