Santander and Argentina ready for next step

BUENOS AIRES (2016 Olympic Women’s Qualifying Tournament) – Cristian Santander and Argentina revelled in some confidence-boosting success at the 2015 FIBA Americas Women’s Championship and are determined to ensure it provides the springboard for a strong bid as they try to realise their Olympic dreams.

After missing out on the FIBA Americas medal shake-up in Xalapa in 2013, Argentina returned to the podium steps in Edmonton earlier this year as they took third place.

Making the experience even sweeter is that they beat Brazil not just once, but twice at the tournament – including the decisive game which pushed their arch rivals out of the reckoning and into fourth.

"It was nearly 60 years without winning against them and we seized our opportunities - most importantly, taking the second victory which served to earn us a medal," reflected Santander.

"But we should not stay in in a place where something has already happened – now we have to move on and focus on what's next.

"It was historic, but that is now history."

He added, "For us it was a good tournament where we could be competitive and we felt we were able to match the best.

"With good individual performances, it became easier to show a version of what we can offer and show we can be a good team.”

Now Argentina are looking to take the next step with a positive finish at the 2016 Olympic Women’s Qualifying Tournament - and one which could result in short trip to Brazil.

Santander is hoping his players will come back into the national team set-up next year in the same rich vein which delivered in Edmonton.

He said, "Our players who are abroad must come with good shooting form and fortunately all have had good participation in terms of their minutes and prominence so far, which is very useful to us.

"And as for the players who are in Argentina, we have had the time to have a good pre-season and can begin to play in 2016 and we will all gather back in May, when we will bring together both groups of players again."

One participant who continues to catch the eye and grow in influence is teenage ace Victoria Llorente.

Having lit up a number of FIBA youth tournaments and now an established senior player, the forward recently made the move to Liga Femenina in Spain where she is part of a Gernika Bizkaia team challenging at the top of the standings.