ARG - The 'go-to’ man

BILBAO (Liga Endesa/Olympics) - When it comes to making the big plays at the end of games this summer at the Olympics, Argentina know they can always turn to Pablo Prigioni.

Caja Laboral did over the weekend and were richly rewarded by the veteran point guard.

Prigioni, having just celebrated his 35th birthday on 17 May, had seven points in his team’s 77-73 victory over Bilbao Basket in Vitoria.

In Game 2, he made two clutch plays to help Baskonia (Caja Laboral) close out the series victory at their Basque rivals on Sunday in the first round of the Spanish Liga Endesa play-offs.

With his team trailing by five in the last minute, Prigioni came to the fore.

Left open on a fast break, he drilled a three-pointer with 33.7 seconds to play.

After Marko Banic missed a pair of free-throws just six seconds from the end that would have sealed the triumph for Bilbao, Caja Laboral coach Dusko Ivanovic called Prigioni's number again.

Coming out of a timeout, Spain international Fernando San Emeterio inbounded the ball to Prigioni several feet from mid-court.

The South American dribbled past teammate Mirza Teletovic, who was setting a screen, and attacked the basket.

Closely guarded by Bilbao's Aaron Jackson, the 35-year-old Prigioni made the lay-up just before the buzzer.

Baskonia then won the game in overtime for a 2-0 sweep.

Prigioni doesn’t always look for his shot during games but when games hang in the balance, he does.

And he has a knack for converting those opportunities.

He finished Game 2 with 13 points, including makes on all four of his free-throws, six assists and six rebounds.

Fans marvel at the way Prigioni has been able to continue playing at the highest level in Spain and international basketball.

In an interview with FIBA.com on 9 March, Prigioni was asked about this and he answered: “I try to work hard every day.

“I try to take care of myself, my body and how I eat, how I sleep.

“I try to do everything to feel good, to try to fight with young players that press me for 40 minutes.”

Prigioni now has time to catch his breath before the team’s semi-final showdown with his former club, Real Madrid, a best-of-five series that gets underway on 24 may.

At the Olympics, Prigioni and Argentina will play in Group A against France, Tunisia, the United States and two teams that come out of the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Caracas, Venezuela.

FIBA