ARG - Guadalajara is great opportunity for Argentina

BUENOS AIRES (Pan American Games) - Argentina have already punched their ticket to the London Games.

A team coached by Julio Lamas achieved that by reaching the Final of the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata, and then made the occasion all the better by beating Brazil in the gold-medal game.

Argentina aren't finished with a crucial summer, though.

The country is sending a team to the Pan American Games and without question, those making the trip stand an excellent chance of making the step up to the top team in the near future.

Argentina's squad consists of Luis Cequeira, Juan Fernández, Nicolás Laprovíttola, Miguel Gerlero, Luciano González, Juan Emilio Fernández Chávez, Marcos Mata, Matías Sandes, Pablo Espinoza, Nicolás Romano, Alejandro Alloatti and Marcos Delía.

"It's a very big chance with young players represent the country in a competition as important as this," said Enrique Tolcachier, who is coaching the team at the Pan American Games.

"This list was discussed and agreed with Julio Lamas, who is constantly in touch with me, from the assembly of the first list of 24 members.

"They are very young and are projected to integrate into the main national team in the future.

"This is a very big opportunity for them."

In fact, Mata and Cequeira already have a taste of playing with the top team.

They were in the country's squad at the 2010 FIBA World Championship that came in fifth and will be hoping to have a chance to play at the London Games.

Marcos Delía competed for the country at this year's FIBA U19 World Championship in Latvia.

Juan Fernandez is a player competing at the highest level of American college basketball with Temple University.

The men's basketball tournament at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico, will tip off on October 26.

FIBA