ARG - Argentina coach anticipates strong squad this summer

BUENOS AIRES (FIBA Americas Championship) - Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez is confident of having most of his top players at his disposal at this summer’s FIBA Americas Championship.

Star men Manu Ginobili and Andres Nocioni are not expected to be made available by their NBA teams - San Antonio Spurs and Chicago Bulls respectively - while others, including Ruben Wolkowyski and Juan Ignacio Sanchez, may stand aside to give opportunities to younger players.

But despite this, Hernandez hopes to have most of the 2004 Olympic gold medal winners with him in Las Vegas.

He told Ole newspaper: “Things are complicated, that’s true, but I trust the team will have more of these players than people think.

“I am not going to travel (to the United States) yet because I want to have concrete things to tell them, but I trust them.”

Meanwhile, Hernandez told AdC.com.ar: “I’m in contact with a lot of players and talk to them quite often.

“Several of them told me ‘yes’ but nobody has told me ‘no’ yet.”

The coach added that home-based players have the same chance of playing at the prestigious tournament as foreign-based ones.

“I don’t care where players play. They can play in NBA, ACB, Italian Lega or here in the Liga Nacional. What I put emphasis on is the players’ level [of ability].

“Here in Argentina there are excellent players. Perhaps the only thing they need is a bit more height and physical work.

“Players here could be at the same level as the best in the world.”

FIBA