BAHIA BLANCA (FIBA U19 World Championship) - The name Ginobili is synonymous with Argentina basketball.

However, it won't be Manu taking the spotlight this summer, but rather his older brother Sebastian 'Sepo' Ginobili after he was named the head coach of Argentina's team competing at the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship.

The 42-year-old was given the job despite being in just his second year as a head coach with Argentina top flight club Weber Bahia Estudiandtes after playing for some 20 years professionally.

"I feel very happy because it's a great event. When you are representing your country at a World Championship, it's the greatest for a player and as a coach like me. It's my first international tournament as a coach," said Ginobili.

I love the game and now I have the chance to coach a national team. I am very proud of that. - Ginobili

"When I do something I try to do my best, so I am very happy, very proud."

Ginobili said his personal connection to the new Argentina Basketball Federation (CABB) sports director Juan Alberto Espil led to his getting the job.

"He knows me. We worked together for three years [at Estudiantes de Bahia Blanca]. I got the job only because he knows me and how I work. And supposedly he likes it," Ginobili said with a laugh.

When asked what his brother Manu Ginobili said about him getting the job, 'Sepo' recalled: "He said, 'You reached the goal really quickly, in two years, nice.' He was very happy for me. Maybe he will follow the tournament."

Ginobili and his staff named an original 21-member preliminary squad for the U19 Worlds, which will take place from 27 June-5 July in Heraklion (Crete), Greece. There was a national screening from 11-16 March at the CeNARD facilities. A training camp is planned for 6-11 April.

The coach knows a handful of the players in line to play in Greece from his club in Bahia Blanca, including Juan Pablo Vaulet, Maximo Fjellerup, Ayan Carvalho and Martin Fernandez. 

Ginobili said his team's lack of size means he will have it play quick.

"We will play hard defense and try to get ball quickly and run the court, try to play with intensity. It will be difficult because we don't have a lot of size. We can't play a lot of 5-on-5. We need to try to play with intensity and play very tough," said the coach.

Ginobili's first experience in Argentina's national team system will be difficult as the team was drawn into Group B with China, Spain and Turkey.

"It's a really tough group, but we have to do what we can to win."

Ginobili expects all three opponents to give his team trouble with their size. So he said his team must focus on what they do well.

We really want to play at this tournament and the team has a strong character. - Ginobili

"We have skills. We have talent on the perimeter and intensity."

When asked what his goal for the tournament is, Ginobili said: "I don't know about our goal position-wise. The way we are looking at it, we want to arrive at the tournament at a good level and improve game by game. We don't know yet the other teams' level.

"We will try to play a good basketball and just do our best and finish in the position that we deserve."

FIBA