ARG – Big chance for Argentina hopefuls

BUENOS AIRES (2010 FIBA World Championship) - It's not easy breaking into Argentina's national team.

Fourteen players have a chance, though, and attempt to earn a place in the squad for the FIBA World Championship.

Before that, however, they must claim a spot on the roster that is set to go on tour to China and Australia.

With Argentina's established veterans and coach Sergio Hernandez staying at home, coach Nicolas Casalanguid will take 12 players to Asia, and Down Under, and they will then compete in the South American Championship.

The games in Australia will be played in Perth, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Some players will then be offered the chance to make Argentina's side for the FIBA World Championship.

Remembering that Walter Herrmann and Carlos Delfino earned their places in Argentina’s gold-medal winning side at the 2004 Olympics after shining at the South American Championship that summer, it’s a big opportunity for players like Nicolas de los Santos.

“It is beautiful to be in the national team," he said on the FIBA Americas website.

"It brings you great satisfaction.

"For now we are 14 and for the trip, there will be 12, so we are leaving everything on the court in practices in order to go."

The 14 players competing for spots in the touring squad are: Gustavo Nicolas Aguirre, Facundo Campazzo, Jonatan Alberto Treise, Nicolas De los Santos, Matias Nocedal, Carlos Leonel Schattmann, Mariano Fierro, Sebastian Ernesto Vega, Pablo Espinoza, Federico Matias Aguerre, Nicolas Romano, Diego Leonardo Romero, Alejandro Martin Alloatti and Pablo Martin Orlietti.

FIBA