Delfino goes 'day by day'

BUENOS AIRES (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019) - Carlos Delfino wasn't the Carlos Delfino of old at the Olympics after making a dramatic return to Argentina's national team, but he was good enough to suggest there is more to come from one of the country's most celebrated players.

Out of action because of injury for three years, the 34-year-old Delfino, a member of the team that won the 2004 Olympic gold medal in Athens and bronze four years later in Beijing, was a late addition to the national squad.

He had a shot from the arc and 7 points in Argentina's narrow Group B win over Croatia and also showed flashes of his former brilliance in the team's defeat against Lithuania. Delfino had a couple of 3-pointers in that contest and scored 10 overall. Though he missed all four shots from the floor and two free-throws in the double overtime triumph against Brazil, Delfino was ecstatic this his team had booked a spot in the Quarter-Finals.

Delfino (No. 10) celebrated after Argentina's win over Brazil

Will he be back for Argentina in the important games to come?

"I never spoke about the issue," he said. "I don't say 'yes' or 'no'. With everything that I went through, I learned to go day by day."

After playing at the FIBA AmeriCup 2017, Argentina will begin their qualifying campaign for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019. There will be several windows when qualifying games are played, starting in November of 2017.

Delfino doesn't want to look too far ahead. He just wants to keep working hard and staying fit.

"With the issue of the windows, it changes a little bit to know when you are playing," Delfino said in an interview on the CABB website.

"I don't know whether to say 'yes' or 'no'. I could tell you yes that I continue and will be captain but it doesn't mean anything. I want to continue, get in the best shape possible and wherever I end up, help.

"We will see where and what happens, what falls on the table. I'm calm with myself and with what happens next."

FIBA