PAN - Bilbao’s Warren needs a break but will think about Panama

BILBAO (FIBA Americas Championship/ACB) - Bizkaia Bilbao Basket's Chris Warren is thinking only about his team’s ACB play-off semi-final series opener against Real Madrid right now.

Warren and Bilbao, fresh off their upset of Power Electronics Valencia in the first round, will now try to slay one of the giants in Spain with Game 1 on Friday night in the Spanish capital.

It's been a remarkable week for Bilbao and their fans, who had never won a game in the play-offs before this post-season.

The Basque club is playing as well as it has all season, on both ends of the floor.

"The coach (Fotis Katsikaris) has been emphasizing the need to share the ball, move the ball around and set screens and get the ball into the right place," Warren said to FIBA.com.

Once the season is over for Bilbao, Warren will have something else to consider.

He will have to decide whether or not he's going to put on the Panama shirt again.

Panama are playing at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata, Argentina, this summer.

Ten national teams will take part, with the two that reach the Final earning spots in the London Games.

The sides that finish third, fourth and fifth will be invited to the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament, where 12 countries will fight for three remaining Olympic berths.

"It would be a good challenge for me to get into a better rhythm before the season and help Panama get to where they need to get," Warren said.

"But I'm just thinking about getting some rest right now, though it is a possibility."

Panama coach David Rosario recently spoke of his hope that Warren would play for Panama.

"My dad is from Panama - born, raised and came to the States and met my mother," Warren said.

The FIBA Americas Championship is shaping up to be a glamorous event and not only because Argentina's golden generation will be playing in front of their own fans for the last time in the international arena.

Brazil have a star-studded team that played at the FIBA World Championship last year and the Dominican Republic recently appointed famous American college coach John Calipari of Kentucky.

Puerto Rico have guard Jose Barea, who is getting ready to play in the NBA Finals for the first time with the Dallas Mavericks, and both Canada and Uruguay are forces to be reckoned with.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Warren was asked about the opportunity to face NBA stars like Barea, Argentina's Manu Ginobili and Brazil's Leandro Barbosa.

"All that does come into play,” he said, “but I really need to think about rest, enjoy my vacation. You know, it's a 10-month season."

For now, it's the ACB play-offs for Warren and Bilbao.

FIBA