ARG – Argentina ‘satisfied’ so far with tour

BUENOS AIRES (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez did not accompany the national team on their brief tour of China but he’s heard positive things about the group of players who are trying to impress and earn places in the squad for the FIBA World Championship.

The South Americans had a game on Friday cancelled because their flight was delayed but they played on Sunday and lost 82-61 before falling again on Monday, 74-57.

Nicolas Casalanquida, Hernandez’s assistant coach, is in charge of the senior team for the tour of China and Australia.

Hernandez said: "I spoke to Nicolas Casalanquida.

"They were satisfied. The team, more than losing two games in China, was at least 70% in form.

"We have to take into account that the China national team is training for the World Championship with NBA players.

"China made sure all of their players played and Argentina did the same thing.

"The starters were Jonatan Treise, Nicolas de los Santos, Sebastian Vega, Alejandro Alloatti y Diego Romero."

Hernandez said having one of the games called off was disappointing.

"The game was cancelled because of the organizing committee, not because Argentina didn't want to play," he said.

"Our idea was to add many games and international experience to this team."

On Friday night, Argentina play Australia in Perth in the first of three friendly games against the Boomers.

Argentina will play in Group A at the FIBA World Championship in Kayseri.

Their Preliminary Round opponents will be Serbia, Australia, Germany, Angola and Jordan.

Argentina squad: Nicolas Aguirre, Jonatan Treise, Nicolas de los Santos, Matias Nocedal, Carlos Leonel Schattmann, Sebastian Vega, Federico Aguerre, Nicolas Romano, Pablo Espinoza, Alejandro Alloatti, Pablo Orlietti and Diego Romero.

FIBA