ARG - Santander grabs the helm of women's NT

BUENOS AIRES (FIBA Americas Championship for Women/FIBA World Championship for Women) - Former Chile boss Cristian Santander is the man who will take the reins of Argentina and lead the team at next year's FIBA Americas Championship for Women.

The 40-year-old Argentinian has replaced Roberto Santin, the national team coach for the past two summers.

Santin guided Argentina to silver at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship for Women in Neiva, Colombia, but the squad won just one of four games at this summer's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament for Women in Ankara, Turkey, and failed to clinch a spot in the London Games.

In comments released by the Argentinian Basketball Confederation (CABB), Santander said: "I am very happy, for me it is with great pride to arrive to the national team of Argentina.

"I'm eager, committed to joining the project with a view to Rio 2016.

"The aim is always to maintain the prestige won by Argentina in the past."

Argentina hope the women's team will one day scale the heights like the country's men have done for the past decade.

The men finished runners-up at the 2002 FIBA World Championship and then won the Olympic gold medal two years late in Athens.

They also finished top of the podium at the 2001 and 2011 FIBA Americas Championships.

"The proposal convinced me, moved me, because there is a serious and sustainable project to Rio 2016," Santander said.

There is also the prospect of returning home.

"We are from Buenos Aires, after six years in Chile is a nice way to come back, with the national team, to reconnect with family and friends," Santander said.

"We are very happy."

Santander will not officially leave his post in Chile until December.

FIBA