ARG - Herrmann back for national team

BUENOS AIRES (South American Championship/Olympics) - Walter Herrmann exploded onto the international basketball scene as the MVP of the 2004 South American Championship and then helped his country capture a gold medal at the Athens Olympics.

He also played at the 2006 FIBA World Championship in Japan and helped the South Americans reach the Semi-Finals.

But Herrmann decided not to make himself available for national team selection in the years that followed, despite being in the prime of his career.

Now that has changed.

The 32-year-old small forward has been included in the Argentina “B” team that is to travel to Angola for a couple of friendly games this month with a view to playing at the South American Championship and possibly the Olympics.

German Vaccaro, the president of Argentina Basketball Confederation, said: "It's the return of someone who never left.  

“We always respected his personal decision and now we feel a great joy to know that he returns.

“Walter has a lot to give to the national team and we hope he will feel comfortable.

"The tour that the team will do is interesting and the main aim is give the many young players in the team a taste of the international (basketball)."

Herrmann has endured tragedy in his life.

In 2003, his mother, sister and then fiancée were killed in a road accident while travelling to see him play, and in 2004 – exactly one year later – he returned to his hotel after being named MVP of the South American Championship and was told that his father had died of a heart attack.

He continued to play the game and eventually got married.

FIBA