CHARLOTTE (Steve Goldberg's Wheel World) - The press release reads: "The Senior Men's National Wheelchair Basketball Team will put their reputation on the line when they compete at the 2013 Americas Cup in Botoga, Colombia August 4-11. It will be the team's first major international tournament since capturing gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games."

What that statement from the Wheelchair Basketball Canada doesn't say is that none of the 11 red and white jerseys representing the reigning Paralympic champions will be worn by one who has been, in my opinion and many others, the world's best player - Patrick Anderson.

In fact, Anderson, with the Canadians for each of their Paralympic wins in 2000, 2004 and 2012 as well as their silver in 2008, is not mentioned anywhere in the release.

The phenom from Fergus, Ontario has retired from the international game for the second time; he did this after Beijing, and there are many players in Australia, Great Britain and the USA who wish he had held to that before London. Also absent will be world class big man Joey Johnson and key contributor Richard Peter.

So Wheelchair Basketball Canada is obviously looking toward the future and God bless them with that. I will take that same forward vision as well. Until proven otherwise, they are still the best team in the world. That may or may not hold true over the next week in Colombia.

Can Canada rule the world without Anderson? First they have to conquer the Americas.

Seven London vets will be in Bogota including second leading scorer Bo Hedges, David Eng, Dave Durepos, Adam Lancia, Abdi Dini, Chad Jassman, and Tyler Miller. They are still good enough to win but the prime competition will be the Americans, who regained a podium place in London.

Hosts Colombia will be a strong top three contender and could step up if shots are falling.

The USA will be led by London Paralympic veterans Steve Serio, Matt Scott and Brian Bell. Another veteran is Mike Paye who wore the USA colors in Athens and Beijing. Other than that it's similar to the USA national soccer 'B' team that that just won the CONCACAF Gold Cup with mostly domestic league players. This team is full of newbies, more than half the squad, looking to make their mark on the road to Rio.

Nine teams will take the floor at the - let me take a breath - Copa América de Baloncesto en Silla de Ruedas 2013 with not only a championship but a ticket to the 2014 IWBF World Championships next year in South Korea on the line. The top four teams will earn that. The website for the tournament is http://www.copaamericabsr2013.com.

"It's appropriate for this tournament to be in Bogota," says Dick Bryant, President of the Americas Zone for the IWBF. He's expecting a competitive and well-run event.

"Colombia are coming off their first Paralympic Games and their performance there helped secure another spot for the Americas in next year's men's world championships."

Leading the charge for the local boys will be Nelson Sanz Londono who averaged 17 points per game for Colombia in London (ranked 5th), and Rodney Hawkins who averaged a double-double of 11.7 points and 12.3 rebounds (ranked 1st). Both shot over 50% in their first major tournament.

According to the roster for the Copa, Colombia will be missing Miguel Chapparo whose 25 assists led the team in London.

I haven't seen them play but Argentina has had the most success of any Americas Zone team other than Canada or the USA in Paralympic competition. The problem is that success came some 40 odd years ago. Their men won silver in 1964 and bronze in 1972. The Argentine women won silver in 1968, gold in 1972 and bronze in 1976.

Ladies first though. The women's side of the Americas qualification tournament began earlier this week in Guatemala with the top three finishers qualifying for next year's IWBF Women's World Championships, which will be played in Toronto, Canada.

As Canada and the USA have already qualified from the zone, they are not competing in Guatemala. Argentina, Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Peru are playing over five days in a round-robin competition for the other spots.

Last time around, Brazil and Mexico qualified from this tournament, though this time an extra spot will be awarded as Canada are already in as hosts.

Two players to watch in this event are Brazil's Lia Maria Soares Martins of Brazil who topped the scoring charts in London at 27 points per game (1st) to go with 10.8 rebounds (4th) and Floralia Estrada Bernal of Mexico whose 13.1 points (10th) and 11.57 rebounds (3rd) made her one of the tournament's dominant players.

The Guatemalan organizers are posting results and photos on Facebook.

Bryant says: "There is talent in South and Central America. Brazil's men played in Athens and Beijing but are looking to improve when they host in 2014. Their women's team played in Beijing and London but have lacked the depth to make the medal round."

Through the first three days in Guatemala though, the Brazilian women have gone undefeated, including a 57-45 win over Mexico which clears their path to the top spot with games against Guatemala and Argentina left in the round robin tournament which ends on Friday. The top three go to Toronto next year.

Mexico should be one. The third could be Peru who has two wins in three matches.

Gentlemen, you're up next.

Steve Goldberg

FIBA

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