MIAMI (United States) – Argentina's road to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 enters a new stage with two major challenges. Puerto Rico will be the opponent at home, while Canada awaits on the road as Argentina begins the Second Round of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Americas Qualifiers. “We have two very difficult opponents ahead of us, and they are going to push us to the limit. Preparation is key to being ready for this window,” Argentina's head coach, Pablo Prigioni, explained. The South Americans enter this stage after finishing the First Round with a 5-1 record in second place in Group D. In the Second Round, they are in Group F alongside Uruguay, the Bahamas, Panama, Puerto Rico and Canada, carrying over the results from the previous stage.
Preparation is key to being ready for this window.
One of the main tests for the former point guard during Argentina's Golden Generation will be getting his team back into a competitive rhythm. The players are currently in their offseason after a long club season. Therefore, the coach believes it will be important to make the most of the available preparation time. “Game rhythm is something we may be lacking. It might have been good for us to have a friendly game beforehand,” said Prigioni, who is also an assistant coach with the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA. He shared a positive assessment of the team’s previous window, in which Argentina won both games and had a full roster available. For Prigioni, it was the first time since taking over as head coach that he had the opportunity to work with the entire team. “It was a very good window for us because we were able to win both games. It was great to see everyone together, and it also helps us see the team's potential… It was a good window, and hopefully we can repeat it,” he said.
Beyond the team's current situation, Prigioni maintains a philosophy that also defined his career as a player, from his beginnings in Cordoba to reaching the NBA at age 35: move forward patiently, work hard and improve constantly. “I think that if you focus on the small things, you keep taking steps forward, even when you don't realize you're taking them. Then we'll see how far we're capable of going and what we're capable of achieving,” he concluded.
FIBA