ARG - Safar underlines importance to national team

SANTO DOMINGO (FIBA Basketball World Cup) - One can easily see by looking at the box scores of Argentina's games at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship an area in which Selem Safar was crucial for the success of the team.

The 1.90m Safar made at least two three-pointers in every game.

He connected on 28 of 60 (48.7%) from long range overall while averaging 12.2 points in Caracas, Venezuela.

Only Luis Scola (18.8ppg) and Facundo Campazzo (13.5ppg) scored more points for Argentina than Safar.

On three occasions, he buried four three-pointers, including in an all-or-nothing showdown with Canada on 8 September.

Argentina went into the contest needing to win to clinch a spot at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, and they did.

Safar was four of six from the arc and finished with 18 points as Argentina prevailed, 73-67.

The team coached by Julio Lamas had in fact needed to win the game 24 hours earlier, too, against Uruguay to stay in the hunt and in that game, Safar nailed two of four from the arc in that 89-63 victory.

While Safar helped Argentina finish third and qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, he knows there are no guarantees when it comes to being included in next year's squad.

"It's a dream," he said. "Before I wasn't thinking about it, but then the tournament that I had allowed me to grow in confidence, so I am hoping for it.

"There is a long way to go and it depends on many issues, like how my season goes and whether certain players opt out. Because I have it very clear in my mind that I played in Caracas because Manu (Ginobili), (Carlos) Delfino and (Paolo) Quinteros weren't there. I will nevertheless continue to grow to have a chance to go to the World Cup."

Safar is looking to have a big season in Argentina's Liga Nacional where he has left Penarol for Boca Juniors.

"I had an important role in Penarol," he said, "but definitely as the shooter.

"This season, I am looking to add things to my game, to get better at the pick and roll better, to help in rebounding and to pass the ball better, in addition to being physically stronger and improve a bit in everything."

FIBA