Sergio Hernandez confirmed as Argentina coach, upbeat about makeup of Olympic squad

BUENOS AIRES (Argentina) - An enthusiastic and optimistic Sergio Hernandez has signed a new agreement with Argentina's Basketball Confederation that will see him coach the national team at the Tokyo Olympics.

The long-time boss of Argentina, who served as head coach at both the 2008 and 2016 Olympics, let go of the reins earlier this year to take charge of Casademont Zaragoza in Spain.

Concerns about his family members that had tested positive for COVID-19 led to Hernandez cutting his time short with the Spanish club so he could return to Argentina.

He has quickly reached agreement with the confederation on coaching the team in Japan. Hernandez is very upbeat about the quality of the players that he will have at his disposal for Tokyo.

"The present is much better if we compare it with that of almost two years ago, before the World Cup in China," Hernandez said. "This will generate, thank God, more difficulties for me to choose the 12.

Hernandez did one of his finest coaching jobs by getting Argentina to the Final in China

"We have better personal realities: young people that have confirmed their explosion, others not so young that have made a huge leap in quality, some that have definitely joined the world elite and, in the case of (Luis) Scola, he continues to be a unique case of eternal youth.

Scola, 41, has played for the national team for two decades. In China, he made the All-Tournament team. If, as expected, Scola plays at the Tokyo Games, it will be the fifth time he has competed at the Olympics for Argentina.

There are plenty of reasons for Hernandez to feel bullish about Argentina's Olympic campaign.

Facundo Campazzo, Gabriel Deck and Lucas Vildoza, three others that excelled at the World Cup, are now NBA players.

Campazzo is playing for Denver and Deck for Oklahoma City while Vildoza signed with the New York Knicks on May 6.

"In all cases it coincides with a leap in quality in their game," Hernandez said. "The three arrivals to the best league in the world have gone hand in hand with an increasing level, when it does not always happen that way."

Hernandez accepts that his players may be playing a lot of basketball in the run-up to the Olympics but is not concerned.

The Olympics tip off July 25 and Argentina's first game will be on July 26, against the team that wins the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Kaunas, Lithuania.

"One would like the ideal, that they have enough activity and, at the same time, rest, but there is no such case," Hernandez said. "Starting from that viewpoint, I think that, if you put it in the balance, it is always better for everyone to be the protagonists, have many minutes and great responsibilities, beyond the physical wear and tear that this can cause.

"That is, at least, what any coach would like. Nor do I think that indicates that you will be more worn out."

After their run to the World Cup Final and subsequent participation in FIBA AmeriCup 2022 Qualifiers games, Argentina are No. 4 in the FIBA World Ranking, Presented by Nike.

FIBA