CANCUN (DIRECTV Liga de las Americas) - Nicolas Brussino came up with some big plays and made his mark for Regatas Corrientes in the Preliminary Round of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas.

Now a player that is trying to boost his chances of making Argentina's national team has an even bigger stage to show his value.

Brussino is about to take on Liga Sudamericana winners Bauru, a star-studded Brazilian side, in the opening game of the Semi-Final Round on Friday in Cancun, Mexico.

They will meet in the first game, with hosts Pioneros de Quintana Roo and Sao Jose dos Campos squaring off in the nightcap.

"This kind of international competition, such as the FIBA Americas League, undoubtedly helps me a lot in my personal growth," Brussino said.

"It is very important at this point in my career.

"It helps me realize what I have to learn or improve in my game to evolve, to establish myself and know how to play internationally."

Brussino, who turns 22 at the start of March, played for Argentina in two competitions last summer.

He featured at the ODESUR Games, helping the team capture the title, and also at the 2014 South American Championship for Men.

Brussino really raised eyebrows with Regatas in the opening phase of the FIBA Americas League a few weeks ago, however.

He led the team with 17 points in an 89-70 triumph over Paulistano.

He then had 16 points in a 70-56 triumph over a good Halcones Rojos team that was a battle for Group C supremacy.

In those two victories, the 2.00m forward hit six of 12 shots from three-point range.

Bauru are going to present a different sort of test for Brussino and Regatas, though.

They have a roster full of good players, including three that played at the World Cup.

In the line-up will be Larry James Taylor, Alex Garcia and Rafael Hettsheimer, a trio that helped Brazil reach the Quarter-Finals of Spain 2014.

Also in the Bauru squad are players with past Brazilian national team games in Jefferson William Andrade Da Silva and Murilo Becker.

Robert Day, one of the leading sharpshooters in the FIBA Americas League, and point guard Ricard Fischer are also key players in the Bauru squad.

Pioneros have Hector Hernandez, an important player in the Mexico national team at the World Cup, and the lightning quick Puerto Rican point guard Denis Clemente.

Sao Jose dos Campos have a potent group of players that includes Andre Laws, Jimmy Baxter and Brazil international big man Caio Torres.

"It's a very tough group with teams with good players that have experience in these tournaments," Brussino said.

"Bauru, which is the Liga Sudamericana champion, Sao Jose, a Brazilian team and that alone speaks of a good standard, and Pioneros, who will also have the support of their home crowd."

Something that Argentina national team coach Sergio Hernandez will be aiming for as he leads the national team into a new era is excellence on defense.

The players that can show they have the necessary intensity and desire on that side of the ball will have a chance to make his FIBA Americas Championship squad this summer.

Brussino says this is the area of the game that will determine whether or not his team reaches the Final Four of the Liga Sudamericana.

Without a doubt, one of the keys for this tournament is to impose the defensive intensity and the team game that we showed in the last group - Brussino

"When we did [apply ourselves on defense], we did well and showed a clear difference compared to our opponents," Brussino said.

"The objective is to repeat both aspects in order to impose our rhythm on the game. If we achieve that, we have better options."

Brussino and Regatas had the luxury of hosting their opening round group, but this time they are one of the away sides.

"We are not worried about playing away from home," he said.

"The team knows the qualities that it has and we are working every day and believe we have the power to play on any court and to play our game."

FIBA