ARGENTINA (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) - Sergio Hernández’s analysis is very clear: Argentina played a good game but Venezuela didn't allow them to catch their breath. Two different teams, two same objectives: winning. This time it was the host team’s turn to get their revenge for the 2015 FIBA Americas Tournament Final, with a 67-62 triumph at the FIBA AmeriCup Group B’s debut. Although it may not be a significant result in the competition —because they're already in the Final Four— it is so in terms of the learning experience acquired by a generation that’s currently developing.

Once the match was over, Hérnadez shared his analysis on the Argentine team’s victory: “Due to Luis’ absence from the paint today, if we didn’t run our victory would've been at stake. It's a great Venezuelan feat —and Che’s (Néstor García) as well— to make us play the one-on-one game all the time. Argentina won, but Venezuela rythmically dominated the whole time. They did an outstanding job.”

“We could attack their changes in one way or another. Campazzo's verticality during the second half affected them. They lost their balance and that caused for different types of free throws to begin to occur because they closed in too much. During the first half we didn't notice that. During the second they did a risky thing: they changed a blocker and left Campazzo and Colmenares. It was too risky and it worked in the first half, but during the second Facu got a grip on the situation,” Hernández —also known as Oveja; “Sheep”, in English— shared.

“It's not easy being the local team when there's so much expectation or you're playing right after the Golden Generation. Also, because there's a generational rebuilding debuting in Argentina —at Bahia Blanca— and against a rival as difficult as the current Americas’ champions. Venezuela put us in a tough spot but Argentina stepped up to the challenge. We can't forget that Venezuela have been playing for 7 years with the same coach and the same concept.”

Regarding his debut at the clipboard in this FIBA AmeriCup 2017, he concluded: “I don't normally believe in good luck charms, but I’ll use it. The only good luck charm I believe in is playing the best we can every day and training hard. Then the game decides.”

FIBA