BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA (FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers 2019) - Argentina star Luis Scola has heaped praise on the format of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Qualifiers.

The veteran, a member of his country's golden generation that has played for the senior team since helping it reach the Final of the  FIBA Basketball World Cup 2002, just led his national team to victories over Panama and Uruguay.

He has played in five of Argentina's six games and helped it to a 5-1 record in the First Round of the Americas Qualifiers.

“I LIKE IT, I THINK IT'S A GOOD FORMAT. I FEEL COMFORTABLE. I LIKE PLAYING AT HOME AND AS A VISITOR. I LIKE THAT THERE ARE GAMES DURING THE WHOLE YEAR... I THINK THESE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS FOR BASKETBALL.”Scola

 Scola, 38, was arguably the best player on the court in the 102-58 victory over Uruguay. He had 29 points, 11 rebounds and 4 assists in that July 1 triumph, Argentina's last game of the First Round.

“I like it, I think it's a good format," he said. "I feel comfortable. I like playing at home and as a visitor. I like that there are games during the whole year... I think these are all good things for basketball.”

In the  Qualifiers, Scola has averaged 18 points,  7.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.

Argentina will next face Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States in Second Round Group E.

Scola has averaged 18 points and  7.6 rebounds and also stood tall on defense in the Qualifiers

Scola has made a lasting impact on the national team for almost two decades. Two years after reaching the Final at the 2002 World Cup in Indiana - where Argentina fell to Yugoslavia in overtime - the iconic big man helped fire Argentina to the gold medal at the Athens Olympics.

He also won bronze with his country at the 2008 Olympics in China and finished fourth at the 2012 Olympics in London.

FIBA