ARG – Leo the legend

MAR DEL PLATA (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Leo Gutierrez is, according to his Peñarol and Argentina national team coach Sergio Hernandez, "the greatest player in the Liga Nacional of the last decade and one of the three best of all time."

As compliments go, they don't come much finer than that.

Gutierrez, one of the unsung heroes of Argentina's national side the past several years and one of the men who rescued them at the 2008 Olympics after Manu Ginobili went down with an injury (Gutierrez was three of five shots from long range and scored 11 vital points to help the South Americans capture bronze), was voted MVP of the Liga Nacional finals over the weekend.

He scored 23 points as Peñarol won Game 5 over Atenas de Cordoba, 80-60, that clinched the title.

The triumph meant that Gutierrez had won an eye-popping seven Liga Nacional titles with five different teams.

Only Marcelo Milanesio and Hector Pichi Campana have also won the same number of championships.

"I wanted to win and give a hand to my team and luckily it happened," Gutierrez said, almost playing down his role in the effort.

"The mentality of the group was crucial.

"We played well all year.

“We had an aim at the start of the season and maintained it all during the campaign and done a brilliant job."

The international basketball community will get a good look at the brilliance of Gutierrez this summer when the sharpshooter represents Argentina at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

Argentina, who hold top spot in the FIBA World Rankings, will take on Serbia, Australia, Germany, Angola and Jordan in Preliminary Round Group A.

FIBA