ARG – Oberto pens new deal, reflects on summer in Turkey

PORTLAND (NBA) - Argentina center Fabricio Oberto left it late but has finally signed an NBA contract with the Portland Trail Blazers.

The veteran, who broke into the league with San Antonio in the 2005-06 campaign and spent last season with Washington, was looking for a new team and has found one just days before the start of the new NBA campaign.

Just over a month ago, Oberto played at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey and helped Argentina to a fifth-place finish.

The 35-year-old gave his opinion of Argentina's performance.

"Very positive," he said in the Clarin newspaper.

"The team was able to overcome all the problems we had, and always showed a lot of character.

"This World Championship was more even.

“Any of the top eight teams could have been semi-finalists."

Now everyone in Argentina will be hoping that Oberto plays when the country hosts the FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata next year.

The event will be the qualifying tournament for the London 2012 Olympics.

"It would be very nice," Oberto said.

"The last time I experienced something like this was the FIBA Americas Championship 2001 in Neuquén.

"I look forward to it very much, but every year I take it more calmly."

If he’s 100% fit, expect Oberto to be in the squad.

FIBA