ARG - Oberto comes out of retirement

BUENOS AIRES (FIBA Americas Championship) - Fabricio Oberto has decided to come out of retirement and play for Argentina as they attempt to qualify for the London Olympics.

Oberto, a long-time professional in Europe who spent the past several years in the NBA, is a part of Argentina's golden generation.

In 2008, while a member of the San Antonio Spurs, Oberto started experiencing arrhythmia and began receiving treatment for the condition.

After helping Argentina come in fifth place last year at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey, he returned to the United States and signed with Portland but shortly after the start of the season felt lightheadedness and dizziness in a game.

Oberto decided to retire but has now decided to put on the Argentina shirt when they host the FIBA Americas Championship in Mar Del Plata.

The sides that reach the Final in will qualify for the London Olympics.

"I will give the maximum effort to try to arrive in the ideal conditions to take part in such a top international tournament," Oberto said.

Oberto's his first major tournament with the South American giants was the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.

He was with Argentina when they lost to Yugoslavia in the Final of the 2002 FIBA World Championship.

Two years later, Oberto helped Argentina reach the gold-medal game at the Athens Olympics.

Despite getting hurt in the Semi-Final triumph over the United States and being unavailable for the title game, Oberto cheer his teammates on as they beat Italy to capture the gold medal.

FIBA