Campazzo: ''Argentina searching for an identity''

VICTORIA  (Canada) - Argentina talisman Facundo Campazzo believes his national team is in a good place  ahead of the Second Round of the Americas Qualifiers for the FIBA Basketball World Cup, yet admits the national team is still "searching for an identity."

For several years, the team was led by coach Sergio Hernandez and also had the legendary Luis Scola in the team. Argentina made it to the World Cup Final three years ago in China and also played at the Olympics.

But with Scola retiring after the Tokyo Games, and Nestor "Che" Garcia replacing Hernandez at the helm, Argentina have been without their experience, and huge personalities, during the Americas Qualifiers.

Campazzo,  ahead of Argentina's Americas Qualifiers games at Canada and then at home to the Bahamas, spokes about the challenge of moving on from Scola and Hernandez.

"WE HAVE TO CONTINUE BUILDING AN IDENTITY AND A WAY OF PLAYING AND THE ONLY WAY IS BY TRAINING A LOT."

"We are preparing well," Campazzo said. "We started our preparations on August 4. We've been training for 20 days, all the team together. This is really important for us because we have a new coach and we no longer have certain players like Luis Scola.

"We have to continue building an identity and a way of playing and the only way is by training a lot. Right now we are in that process, searching for an identity.

"As players we have to give 100 percent to the national team and to Nestor. I see the group well. We are eager to play together, for the games to start and to continue to improve."

Che Garcia now holds the reins of Argentina's national team

A former Argentina teammate of the 31-year-old Campazzo, former point guard sensation Pablo Prigioni, is also on the coaching staff.

"For us as guards, it's very important," Campazzo said. "He has a vision that sometimes we don't see. He has a lot of experience at international level, everything he represents for the national team. We have to learn from him. He has a vision of the NBA, of European basketball. We have to be like a sponge and learn from all his teachings. Be good students and enjoy it."

Argentina showed a lot of promise at the end of the First Round, at Venezuela on June 30 and then at Panama on July 3.

 Venezuela had been convincing 71-58 winners in the first meeting but with Campazzo pulling the strings, Argentina won the second game, 69-66.

Argentina then rolled to an 88-77 win in Panama City to improve to 5-1 in Group E - the same record as Venezuela.

Canada won all six of their First Round games while the Bahamas prevailed in just two of theirs.

"Canada are dangerous," Campazzo said. "They have a lot of NBA players. They are strong in every position. They can score from every angle. They defend well. They can go from one to five, they have players that can impose themselves under the basket. We know it's going to be difficult because of the quality of players they have individually.

"We have to make them move, we have to play as a team more than ever. We have to impose our play. Canada will demand 100 percent from us mentally and physically. If we are focused from start to finish, then we may have our chances.

"We have to make the most of playing at home against Bahamas. It's another difficult rival. We have to do things well, show on the court what we have been working on in training the past few weeks."

Campazzo had 29 points in Argentina's 69-66 win over Venezuela

There is also the sweetener of facing the Bahamas in Mar del Plata, where Campazzo once played professionally for club side Penarol.

"For me to play in Mar del Plata means a lot," he said. "I left this city seven years ago and to return will be something very special."

Campazzo says there is much to like about Argentina, at least in terms of their potential.

"We have a lot of young talent," he said. "The mix of veterans and youth could be valuable for us."

Being on the same page defensively will be crucial.

"We need to stop our rivals from playing their game and that's through our defense," he said. "We are not the tallest nor the most athletic but in terms of the knowledge of the game, we can have an advantage there. For that we need to train a lot. We have to be aggressive defensively and not let our opponents get comfortable."

When Argentina have the ball, Campazzo stresses that the team needs to remain true to what has always allowed the country to be successful.

"On offense, Argentina has always characterized itself by making the extra pass," he said. "We have to continue with that identity, with that generosity, of looking for the player that is open or in good form. I think in that sense we show solidarity."

Making it back to the World Cup is very important for Argentina, with the memory of making it to the Final in Beijing still fresh.

"I have beautiful memories," Campazzo said. "We played very good basketball. We prepared for the tournament really well. We had the Pan American Games before and that helped us, as we won the gold medal. No one expected us to play at that level and we were the surprise of the tournament.

"We took it one game at a time, with a lot of confidence, we defended with our all and then focused on the extra pass.

"To face Serbia and France, we knew that the pressure wasn't on us and we were relaxed and played with confidence. Everything flowed. You could see the concentration in my teammates' eyes. It was a pity that we couldn't get the title against Spain, but Spain knows how to play us. They had experience in that type of game and it went in their favor. Although we lost the final, that tournament united us and marked us."

Argentina celebrated after their Quarter-Final triumph over Serbia at the World Cup in Dongguan

This is a whirlwind month for Campazzo and Argentina because just days after the game against Panama, the FIBA AmeriCup gets underway.

"We will try to win the AmeriCup," he said. "This group hasn't won it yet and we know that if we can play good basketball, play intelligently, anything can happen. The tournament is going to have a great level and that makes it even more dangerous. Our group has a very good level. Our aim is to reach the final and win it but we have to go one step at a time."

No matter what happens in the coming days, Campazzo will feel energized by his time with the national team, much like Scola used to say he was. There is not greater honor for a player in Argentina to represent his country.

"It's a beautiful feeling to represent your country, it's what a player desires," he said. "When I was young, there was Manu Ginobili, Scola, Prigioni,Chapu (Andres Nocioni). It was a dream, a fantasy. It's the jersey that always is there, it never changes.

"You change the clubs, cities, countries but the national team jersey is always there and that's a great taste. Then you have the group of players that are your friends. It's a responsibility, pressure, but I enjoy it. For us, we transform that into a positive."

FIBA