Argentina look ahead to Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament with confidence

BUENOS AIRES (2016 FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament) - Argentina have every reason to believe they can snatch one of the remaining five spots for the Rio de Janeiro Games when they take part in next year's FIBA Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Cristian Santander's squad went unbeaten in the Preliminary Round of the 2015 FIBA Americas Women's Championship and only fell to Cuba after overtime in the Semi-Finals.

Argentina left Edmonton, Canada, on the back of a 66-59 triumph over Brazil in the Third-Place Game.

Veteran center Gisela Vega says there were plenty of positives from the experience.

"Other than not getting the direct qualification for the Olympics, we were satisfied with the work done," she said.

"We got a medal and that is no small thing."

"I think the team showed the desire to fight for a spot in Rio.

"It's more relevant than ever to go to the Olympic Qualifying Tournament and to get there [2016 Olympics].

"It's not impossible and it's in our hands.

"We're aiming at a target and we're all consumed with this objective."

Santander knows his team came very close to getting to the Final but came up just short in a pulsating last four showdown with Cuba.

Argentina had to battle back from a 12-point deficit at half-time and actually took the lead in the second half but weren't able to press home the advantage.

They forced overtime when Celia Fiorotto grabbed an offensive rebound and scored with a put-back just 4.1 seconds from the end.

The game was still knotted at 77-77 with 2:17 left in overtime when Yamara Amargo drilled a three-pointer from the left corner and the Cubans pulled away.

Had Vega and Co beaten Cuba, who knows what would have happened next?

Argentina would have had to spring an upset against hosts Canada to claim the title and the direct qualification for Rio.

The last time the two sides squared off at a FIBA Americas Women Championship, though, in the Semi-Finals four years ago in Neiva, Colombia, Argentina did beat Canada, 61-59, to reach the title game.

"On balance," Santander said of Argentina's performance in Edmonton, "it's positive.

"We were able to compete on equal footing with all of the teams.

"We went 5-1 and the only game we lost was after overtime.

"I'm very happy with the performance at the FIBA Americas that has allowed us to keep dreaming."

FIBA