VEN - Garcia has healthy respect for opponents

CARACAS (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Venezuela coach Nestor "Che" Garcia knows it will be extremely difficult for his national team to reach the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Not only is there uncertainty about the availability of leading player Greivis Vasquez for the host nation, with the NBA guard having had ankle surgery after the 2012-13 campaign with the New Orleans Pelicans, Garcia also knows there will be plenty of quality opposition at the FIBA Americas Championship.

Only the first four sides at the event will qualify for the next year's World Cup in Spain.

Venezuela are in Group B with Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Paraguay.

If Garcia's team progresses to the second round, it will go up against heavyweights like Brazil, Puerto Rico and Canada.

Venezuela have a tough tournament opener against Mexico on 30 August.

"They should qualify for the next round," Garcia said.

"It's one of the most talented sides in the Caribbean. It has a lot of players in the United States."

After a clash with Paraguay, Venezuela will go up against the Dominicans and Argentina.

While the Argentinians won't have Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni, Pablo Prigioni and Leo Gutierrez, and Carlos Delfino is a huge doubt as he recovers from foot surgery, they should be a handful.

"The same (Argentina) team is going to come that won the 2012 South American Championship," Garcia said, "well, almost the same team but with Luis Scola. He's an extra."

Garcia has great insight into the Argentina team because not only does he hail from the country. He was the coach of the Argentina team that captured the 2012 South American Championship title.

The first stage of Venezuela's preparations get underway on Monday in Caracas.

At the end of this phase, the squad will be reduced to 16 players.

Many of those named, including Vasquez, played for Venezuela at last year's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Caracas.

Venezuela preliminary squad: Hector Romero, Dwight Lewis, David Cubillan, Jhornan Zamora, Rafael Perez, Tulio Cobos, Cesar Silva, Heissler Guillen, Jesus Urbina, Jose Bravo, Kevin Palacios, Juan Coronado, Heberto Guanipa, Anthony Perez, Michael Carrera, Nestor Colmenares, Windy Graterol, Luis Bethelmi, Lenin Lopez, Francisco Centeno, Carlos Cedeno, Axiers Sucre, Gregory Vargas, Jose Vargas, Miguel Marriaga, Gregory Echenique and Greivis Vasquez.

FIBA