FIBA Basketball
PAN - Vecchio has high hopes for World Championship
SAN JUAN (FIBA World Championship) - Guillermo Vecchio has set a target of reaching the quarter-finals of the FIBA World Championship after being named as the new coach of Panama. "Panama are a very powerful
SAN JUAN (FIBA World Championship) - Guillermo Vecchio has set a target of reaching the quarter-finals of the FIBA World Championship after being named as the new coach of Panama.
"Panama are a very powerful national team," the Argentinian coach said. "If we can group all the best players together, we should be able to do a good job."
That might be easier said than done. In the past, Panama has had problems persuading all of its leading stars to pull on the national team jersey, with some of the bigger names holding out for more money or refusing to play.
However, Vecchio is confident that will not be a problem this time around with the nation competing in a string of major tournaments, which the coach hopes will prove a big incentive for the players.
"We will host the Centrobasket Championship (from July 4-8) which is a qualifier for the 2008 Olympic Games. And playing in that tournament is a motivation for everybody," he said.
"At the moment, our objective is to reach the Centrobasket final. Then it will be to win it. And after that, we will think about the FIBA Americas Championship (which begins on July 10) where we can make history."
What is more, this year's tournament in Japan will be Panama's first World Championship appearance in more than two decades and that, Vecchio believes, will sway any remaining players reluctant to play for their country.
"I will talk with the players. I do not think that we will have problems," he said. "Panama are playing in their first World Championship in 24 years. Not since Spain 1982 have they played in a tournament like this.
"I will have all my players and we will do a great job."
Vecchio brings plenty of experience to his new role, having coached Argentina at the 1994 World Championship in Canada and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
He also coached at two FIBA Americas Championships, having led Venezuela in 1999 and Mexico in 2003, when his team recorded an historic 91-89 win over an Argentina side who would go on to win Olympic gold only a year later in Athens.
Having sampled the atmosphere at a FIBA World Championship, Vecchio is eager for more.
"I accepted the Panamanian Basketball Federation's offer because coaching in a World Championship is the best thing for any coach. Although it will be hard work, it will be a unique experience. The players convinced me."
In addition to coaching Panama, Vecchio is working for two very contrasting league teams - scouting for NBA powerhouse the Detroit Pistons, and coaching Grises de Humacao of the Puerto Rican BSN league.
Working with limited resources, Grises are battling to get into the upper reaches of the table, exactly the sort of assignment that Vecchio relishes.
"I love challenges," he said. "I had to request a two-month license from Detroit to coach this league team, and they gave it to me without any problems.
(Pistons general manager) Joe Dumars is a great person."
His work with the NBA means that Vecchio is aware of the individual threats his team are likely to encounter in Japan, where they will begin in Group B along with Spain, Germany, New Zealand, Angola and the hosts.
"I know a lot of the players from my scouting," Vecchio said. "Pau Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies and Spain) and Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks and Germany) are impressive. I think Spain, Germany and New Zealand will be very difficult.
"Angola were always the best team from Africa. They have an experienced team and will cause us headaches, while Japan are playing at home.
"We can get into the last 16, and who knows, we might win that and reach the final eight. It is difficult, but impossible is nothing.
"When I was hired as coach of Argentina, the team was around 50th or 60th in the FIBA's rankings, and we jumped to the top. Right now, Panama are 35th, and we can rise up the positions."
Vecchio's arrival has certainly brought optimism to Panama, where the Basketball Federation (FEPABA) president Miguel Sanchiz is delighted to have secured such a high-profile coach.
"Vecchio has had a very important career in coaching," he said. "He has outstanding international experience. We needed somebody with ability and prestige like he has.
"He is known all around the Americas. And he knows all the players in the world. He knows how to work, how to coach. We are happy to have him."
Sanchiz added: "He is coaching Grises and they are like Panama in many ways: they are a young team, without prestige, fighting to be the best in their league. Vecchio is the person we needed."
By Sebastian Nazziconi, PA Sport Exclusively for FIBA
"Panama are a very powerful national team," the Argentinian coach said. "If we can group all the best players together, we should be able to do a good job."
That might be easier said than done. In the past, Panama has had problems persuading all of its leading stars to pull on the national team jersey, with some of the bigger names holding out for more money or refusing to play.
However, Vecchio is confident that will not be a problem this time around with the nation competing in a string of major tournaments, which the coach hopes will prove a big incentive for the players.
"We will host the Centrobasket Championship (from July 4-8) which is a qualifier for the 2008 Olympic Games. And playing in that tournament is a motivation for everybody," he said.
"At the moment, our objective is to reach the Centrobasket final. Then it will be to win it. And after that, we will think about the FIBA Americas Championship (which begins on July 10) where we can make history."
What is more, this year's tournament in Japan will be Panama's first World Championship appearance in more than two decades and that, Vecchio believes, will sway any remaining players reluctant to play for their country.
"I will talk with the players. I do not think that we will have problems," he said. "Panama are playing in their first World Championship in 24 years. Not since Spain 1982 have they played in a tournament like this.
"I will have all my players and we will do a great job."
Vecchio brings plenty of experience to his new role, having coached Argentina at the 1994 World Championship in Canada and the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
He also coached at two FIBA Americas Championships, having led Venezuela in 1999 and Mexico in 2003, when his team recorded an historic 91-89 win over an Argentina side who would go on to win Olympic gold only a year later in Athens.
Having sampled the atmosphere at a FIBA World Championship, Vecchio is eager for more.
"I accepted the Panamanian Basketball Federation's offer because coaching in a World Championship is the best thing for any coach. Although it will be hard work, it will be a unique experience. The players convinced me."
In addition to coaching Panama, Vecchio is working for two very contrasting league teams - scouting for NBA powerhouse the Detroit Pistons, and coaching Grises de Humacao of the Puerto Rican BSN league.
Working with limited resources, Grises are battling to get into the upper reaches of the table, exactly the sort of assignment that Vecchio relishes.
"I love challenges," he said. "I had to request a two-month license from Detroit to coach this league team, and they gave it to me without any problems.
(Pistons general manager) Joe Dumars is a great person."
His work with the NBA means that Vecchio is aware of the individual threats his team are likely to encounter in Japan, where they will begin in Group B along with Spain, Germany, New Zealand, Angola and the hosts.
"I know a lot of the players from my scouting," Vecchio said. "Pau Gasol (Memphis Grizzlies and Spain) and Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks and Germany) are impressive. I think Spain, Germany and New Zealand will be very difficult.
"Angola were always the best team from Africa. They have an experienced team and will cause us headaches, while Japan are playing at home.
"We can get into the last 16, and who knows, we might win that and reach the final eight. It is difficult, but impossible is nothing.
"When I was hired as coach of Argentina, the team was around 50th or 60th in the FIBA's rankings, and we jumped to the top. Right now, Panama are 35th, and we can rise up the positions."
Vecchio's arrival has certainly brought optimism to Panama, where the Basketball Federation (FEPABA) president Miguel Sanchiz is delighted to have secured such a high-profile coach.
"Vecchio has had a very important career in coaching," he said. "He has outstanding international experience. We needed somebody with ability and prestige like he has.
"He is known all around the Americas. And he knows all the players in the world. He knows how to work, how to coach. We are happy to have him."
Sanchiz added: "He is coaching Grises and they are like Panama in many ways: they are a young team, without prestige, fighting to be the best in their league. Vecchio is the person we needed."
By Sebastian Nazziconi, PA Sport Exclusively for FIBA