ARG - Argentina coach looking to future

BAHIA BLANCA (National team) - Argentinian head coach Sergio Hernandez claims the refusal by some of his star players to play in the FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas is ancient history and that he is now concentrating on the task in hand.

Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Walter Herrmann, Pepe Sanchez, Andres Nocioni and Ruben Wolkowisky are the star names to refuse to turn out for the Olympic champions who hope to qualify for next year's Beijing Games in Las Vegas.

Hernandez insisted that he was now moving on, telling La Nueva Provincia newspaper: "Being in the national squad is such a big thing that any setback is negligible."

He sang the praises of the players who have accepted the call-up, saying: "We are very satisfied with the work we've done. This is a very professional and disciplined team. The most important thing to do now is looking ahead"

Argentina are training with a 12-man squad including Luis Scola and Carlos Delfino at Club Uno in Bahia Blanca and on August 1 will host Uruguay in a friendly match.

Hernandez said: "The guys don't like losing, even in training. They are born competitors and are aware we have to be ready in 20 days. Every training day is important."

The head coach also confirmed Diego Lo Grippo, Roman Gonzalez, Matias Sandes, Martin Leiva and Leonardo Mainoldi will join the preliminary squad after duty in the Rio de Janeiro Pan American Games.

Hernandez, who succeeded Olympic title-winning coach Ruben Magnano at the helm of the national side, said: "They are very young players with a giant future.

"It will be important if they could earn some experience but they will have the same chance as everybody else in the team.

"We recently also named Leiva because Ruben Wolkowisky won't be part of it."

Gabriel Batalla
FIBA