ARG - Hernandez happy with Argentinians' progress ahead of Japan
MAR DEL PLATA (FIBA World Championship) - Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez could not be more pleased with the attitude of his players and the progress they have made in their preparations for the FIBA World Championship
WIN a trip to the FIBA World Championship Finals weekend
MAR DEL PLATA (FIBA World Championship) - Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez is very pleased with the attitude of his players and the progress they have made in their preparations for the FIBA World Championship.
The Olympic champions, who count the likes of Manu Ginobili, Andres Nocioni and Luis Scola among their ranks, beat Group A rivals Venezuela 96-82 in Mar del Plata in their first warm-up game for the tournament, which begins on August 19.
"We have made more progress than I expected,'' said Hernandez. "You never get used to training at such a high level, with so much talent all together.''
And the coach had special words of praise for the team`s willingness to learn.
"The top players are the ones who ask questions, the ones who want to know all the details,'' he added.
"The relationship between me and the players surpassed what I had expected. They have a wonderful respect and they recognise they need to be coached.''
The team now travel to Santa Fe, where they will contest the Super Four tournament along with Brazil, Venezuela and New Zealand.
Argentina, among the pre-tournament favourites in Japan, will be in Group with two-time defending champions Serbia & Montenegro, France, Lebanon, Nigeria and the Venezuelans.
PA Sport
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