ARG – Vaccaro encouraged by visits with Argentina’s NBA players

BUENOS AIRES (FIBA Americas Championship) - There aren’t many people that can gain an audience with Manu Ginobili, Luis Scola, Carlos Delfino and Andres Nocioni, especially with each at the business end of the NBA season.
 
But German Vaccaro isn’t just anyone.
 
He’s the president of the Argentinian Basketball Confederation and had nice visits with all four of the NBA players in the United States to gauge their availability for the FIBA Americas Championship that is going to be staged in Mar del Plata.
 
Ginobili, who skipped last summer’s FIBA World Championship following the birth of his twin sons, hasn’t played for Argentina since the 2008 Olympics.
 
“I met Manu on Sunday after the San Antonio game,” Vaccaro said.
 
“I met the twins that are lovely.
 
“He even took me to the airport and we spoke about a family room, a private room inside the (Mar del Plata) arena where all the families of players can meet - a cozy place and private one for players. We want to introduce it here.
 
"With Luis, we had supper in Houston and we were there for two hours talking.
 
“Luis always shows a great interest for what we are doing.
 
“Then I went to Boston where Philadelphia was playing and I met up with Chapu (Nocioni).
 
“He was very happy for his team reaching the play-offs and because he is getting more minutes of play.
 
“He said he is in good physical form.”
 
While Nocioni was withdrawn from last summer’s Argentina squad at the FIBA World Championship by the Sixers shortly before the start of the tournament due to injury concerns, the player that seems to be uncertain this summer is Delfino.
 
He suffered a concussion early in the season and missed a lot of games for Milwaukee and has had some other knocks.
 
“I met Carlitos (Delfino) after the game that Milwaukee played in Miami,” Vaccaro said.
 
“We spoke briefly.
 
“He told me he has not recovered completely from several injuries that he has had this season.”
 
The two sides that reach the FIBA Americas Championship Final will book a trip to the London Games.
 
The teams that end up third through fifth will claim spots at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

FIBA