CARACAS (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) – The Venezuelan Basketball Federation (FVB) announced a 15-player list that will head to Spain to begin preparations for the FIBA AmeriCup 2017.

The 2015 FIBA AmeriCup Champions will look for the same glory when the continental championship gets underway on August 25.

Gregory Vargas, Jose Vargas, John Cox, Nestor Colmenares and Windi Graterol find themselves in the preliminary list that may lead them to a title defense in a new edition of the continental championship.

Coach Nestor Garcia also added some new faces to the National Team process as Angel Blanco, Pedro Chourio, José Materán, and Luis Carrillo, will try to earn a spot in the Venezuelan team for the first time.

Venezuela’s preparations will include two friendly games against Spain’s National Team in the cities of Madrid and Malaga, on August 15 and 20 respectively. Also programed are games against the National Team of Senegal and teams from Spain’s top-flight league.

Venezuela will begin the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 in Bahia Blanca, Argentina, as part of Group B of the competition along with the National Teams from the Virgin Islands, Canada and the host Argentina. The top team from the group, along with Argentina, will qualify to the Semi-Finals of the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 in Cordoba, Argentina on September 2. The Final will be played on September 3.

FIBA