URU – Uruguay in Las Vegas and Rio de Janeiro

MONTEVIDEO (FIBA Americas Championship) – To reach Beijing 2008! That is the dictum for Uruguay on their way to the next FIBA Americas Championship, which will be held from August 22 to September 2, 2007.

The ‘celestes’ (blues) arrived in eight place on each of the last qualifying tournaments, both for the World Championships and Olympic Games; far from reaching the top spots. 

Their objective during this cycle, in which they will be conducted by Alberto Espasadín as head coach, is to fight for a ticket to the Olympics in 2008. However, they are well aware of their weak chances of a direct qualification, having to set their sights on the qualifying tournament for those teams who don’t reach qualification through each of their respective local qualifying tournaments.

The tournament in Las Vegas qualifies its first two teams to Beijing 2008, being USA (as host), Argentina, and Brazil the top candidates to achieve that.

Those countries finishing on 3rd, 4th, and 5th place will have to go to Europe, in which they will try to qualify to the Olympics in a tournament.

By Federico Buysan
FIBA