ARG - Mainoldi shows he can get it done on the boards

SAN SEBASTIAN (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Leo Mainoldi didn't make Argentina's squad for the London Games but the sweet-shooting big man hasn't given up hope of representing the country at a major sporting event.

If the Fuenlabrada forward has more rebounding performances like the one he enjoyed on Sunday at Lagun Aro GBC in Spain's Liga Endesa, national team coach Julio Lamas may take him to next year's FIBA Americas Championship in Venezuela where Argentina will try to qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The 27-year-old had 15 rebounds to go with his 17 points to lead Fuenlabrada to their first victory of the season on Sunday.

They are now 1-4 on the campaign.

His output, which also included four assists, garnered the Player of the Week award for Mainoldi.

"It's true that there have been times when I've been able to score more but on not so many occasions have I been such a rebounder," he said.

"However, I think that little by little I'm improving in this area.

"It's important to want to fight for every ball and to have a bit of luck in terms of rebounds."

The player to finish second in the rebounding statistics in the game was Nigeria international Ekene Ibekwe of Lagun Aro with eight, while no other Fuenlabrada player had more than four boards.

There is no question about Mainoldi's quality as a perimeter shooter.

He is a player that can stretch the defense, as he proved for Argentina last summer at the South American Championship when burying 45.2% (14 of 31) from long range and averaging 11.6 points.

Mainoldi was six of nine from the floor and drilled both of his three-pointers.

Having carried some knocks early in the season, the 2.04m native of Cañada de Gòmez now feels like he's in good shape.

"I feel better physically," he said.

"It's been a perfect weekend.

"This MVP has come with a very important victory which has broken a bad run of results.

"Tomorrow (Monday) my family is arriving from Argentina and I couldn't ask for more."

FIBA