Fitipaldo leads generational change for Uruguay

BRADENTON (2016 South American Championship) - The Uruguayan national team is in Bradenton, Florida, to conclude the final stages of its preparation for the 2016 South American Championship. Point guard Bruno Fitipaldo admits that the team is going through a generational change.

With 12 players on the roster, the Uruguayan team began its training at the IMG Academy. And while it is true that the team is waiting for the arrival of center Esteban Batista, who is currently disputing the playoffs of the Italian League, the national program is implementing an expected gradual renewal in its core. It will be the first South American Championship since 1999 that the team will not have Martin Osimani or Leandro Garcia Morales.

This is Uruguay’s only tournament this year and we want to have our best performance. While it is a little premature to say it, I think we're trained to fight as equals against all of those teams. - Fitipaldo

Despite being just 24, Fitipaldo has accumulated a fair amount of international experience since making his debut in the Uruguayan jersey at the 2010 South American Championship. This makes him a veteran of sorts for the team and he is expected to assume a leadership role.

"Because of time, there is a mandatory generational change coming. Change is not easy and it requires hard work and patience. We don’t want anyone to notice this change and we want to form a competitive team for the international arena," Fitipaldo told FIBA.com.

"There are more experienced players in this team. They can also lead the team. I have been participating in international tournaments for a long time and I feel comfortable doing it. If it’s necessary for me to lead this team, obviously it would be a nice goal and a challenge."

On a team that has no natural shooting guards and because of his effective three-point shooting, it is quite possible that Fitipaldo's role at this South American Championship will be more as a shooter than a playmaker.

"We have played some tournaments with two guards and me as a shooter. Despite it not being my natural position, we have played well with two guards and we're used to it. Because of my characteristics, I'm generally used in that position when I play with the national team. Doing what the team needs regardless of personal interests is something that should prevail in the national team, always," he explained.

The Uruguayan team began a new process under the leadership of head coach Marcelo Signorelli, someone the guard trusts.

"Marcelo can help us a lot because his idea is to achieve a dynamic and aggressive team, something essential for our characteristics. He is also focused on bringing excitement and passion to the Uruguayan National Team in every way possible," said Fitipaldo.

The 1.83m guard, who played the past two seasons for Obras in Argentina's national league, has been making the transition to his new role before embarking on his next commitment with the national team in Venezuela's capital of Caracas from 26 June-2 July.

"It will be a unique South American Championship, as there are three teams, Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil, that will be competing at the Olympics this year and that will generate a lot of attention for the tournament," Fitipaldo pointed out. "For that reason it will be used as a preparation and test event for the players. This is Uruguay’s only tournament this year and we want to have our best performance. While it is a little premature to say it, I think we're trained to fight as equals against all of those teams."

FIBA