Bolmaro, Fernandez give Argentina a Spanish touch for U19 World Cup

BUENOS AIRES (Argentina) - Argentina’s team at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2019 will have a touch of Spanish basketball as head coach Maximiliano Seigorman has selected two players who ply their trade in the western European country.

Seigorman finalized his 12-man roster for Heraklion 2019 and included are both Leandro Bolmaro, who plays for Barcelona; and the 2002-born Juan Francisco Fernandez, who is on the books with Fuenlabrada.

The team includes eight players who helped Argentina finished third at the FIBA U18 Americas Championship 2018, including their top four scorers Marco Giordano, Francisco Caffaro, Juan Ignacio Marcos and Juan De La Fuente, who all scored in double figures.

Fernandez also is one of three players who appeared at last summer’s FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018 at home in Argentina, along with Tomas Chapero and Bautista Lugarini.

Tomas Chapero already has experience on the global stage, having played at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2018

Seigorman trimmed six players from his original training camp player pool and then cut Juan Cruz Marini, Julian Eydallin, Christian Bihurriet and Thomas Notarainni after the final preparation game at the team’s headquarters in Buenos Aires.

Seigorman and his team will continue to work until June 18 when they head to Europe for a week in Serbia, where they will play three warm-up games before leaving for Greece on June 26. The Argentineans face hosts Greece, Philippines and Russia in Group C.

"We are looking forward to playing these friendly matches on the European tour so that we can implement the final details we lack," Seigorman said. "The idea is to take advantage of the week that we are going to be there to play against teams from Eastern Europe which have characteristics similar to those we are going to face."

FIBA