ARG - Campazzo salutes Leo

MAR DEL PLATA (Olympics) - Anyone that doubts the importance of veteran Leo Gutierrez to Argentina's national team should reflect on the words of youngster Facundo Campazzo.

The 21-year-old Campazzo was over the weekend named the MVP of the Liga Nacional play-off finals for Penarol after their 4-2 victory over Obras Sanitarias, who are coached by national team coach Julio Lamas.

Penarol clinched the title with a 75-66 Game 6 triumph.

"I'm not interested in the award," the 1.79m Campazzo said.

"For me, the best player is Leo.

"He gives my game more power on the court and he gives me a lot of advice off the court.

"He's a winner that is worth all the gold in the world."

Penarol won the title for the third straight time, which is the first time any club has ever done that in Argentina.

Gutierrez, who turned 34 in May, has now won nine Argentina league championships.

He had 17 points in Game 6.

That Gutierrez would have such a big role for Penarol, who are led by former Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez, should come as no surprise.

Argentina would not have been able to celebrate a second straight appearance on the Olympic podium in Beijing had Gutierrez not come to the rescue.

Gutierrez had not played much in China until injuries to key men Manu Ginobili and Andres Nocioni forced Hernandez to go deep to his bench.

While he missed all three of his shots and failed to score in 19 minutes against Team USA in the Semi-Finals in China, Gutierrez had a momentum-changing effort in the bronze-medal game against Lithuania and ended up with 11 points in 17 minutes.

He drilled three of five shots from long range in that game.

Gutierrez had a more prominent role in 2010 at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey, averaging 7.1 points in just under 16 minutes per game.

A health condition kept him off the floor last year at the FIBA Americas Championship but Gutierrez is healthy again and ready to help Argentina in London.


FIBA