ARG - Scola: Venezuela scare good for us

MAR DEL PLATA (FIBA Americas Championship) - Argentina, ranked third in the world, are the only top 10 team that will play the FIBA Americas Championship, which gets underway on 30 August.

But as every good team, the 2004 Olympic champions have their weaknesses, many of which were apparent in the 77-73 win against Venezuela on Thursday night.

Argentina finished their preparations ahead of the FIBA Americas Championship - from which the top two teams will qualify automatically for next year's Olympics in London - with seven wins and no losses, averaging 86.5 points per game and conceding 57.1 points.

Captain Luis Scola was happy to have played a tight friendly game.

“This was the best thing that could happen to us,” said the 2.07m centre, who scored 22 points. 

“It’s obvious we didn’t play a good game but it was useful. We hate when a team abandons before the game finishes and Venezuela play fiercely until the last second, like Cuba did in Córdoba a couple of weeks ago.”

Argentina beat Venezuela three times.

The FIBA Americas Championship host team also defeated Uruguay, Paraguay, Cuba and Basque Country in 20 days of preparations.

“Basically we had problems against full-court pressure and defensive adjustments,” Scola said of the Thursday's game.

“We have to avoid getting anxious and keep doing what we do best.”

The 31-year-old, who made his senior national team debut in 1999, believes there are no easy rivals in Olympic qualifying tournaments.

“Our opponents will all play as Venezuela did on Thursday. They are all here to win and not to see how we play,” he warned.

Manu Ginóbili had a quiet night with only eight points and had four turnovers.

“Venezuela had tried in the previous games to put some pressure on us but they didn’t make it until the second half of the last game,” he said.

“We will let this be a lesson to us so we can improve for our first game next Tuesday.”

Venezuela ended their preparation with eight wins and five defeats.

Argentina will make their Group A debut against Paraguay on 30 August.

Games against Uruguay, Puerto Rico and Panama will follow.

Venezuela will play Brazil, Dominican Republic, Cuba and Canada in Group B.

The four top teams from each Group will advance to the Quarter-Finals.

FIBA