PAR - Araujo, basketball ambassador in a soccer country

CARACAS (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Guillermo Araujo had to leave his native Paraguay in order to become a solid international basketball player.

In a soccer country like his, Araujo had to go to the country's capital of Asuncion to then pack and go to Argentina and other countries in order to fulfill his passion - basketball.

"I started playing with my friends in the street, then it became a passion," he told FIBA.com.

"I have been playing out of Paraguay for 10 years. It's very hard to get noticed in my country, the league is very weak, does not have many teams and now we lack the help of American players that used to come and make our level grow.

"I have played in developing leagues, having the luck to be able to play in the best leagues of South America, like Argentina, Venezuela and the FIBA Americas League with Club Pinheiro from Brazil."

Araujo sees growing potential in basketball in Paraguay and just wants to make sure it does not go to waste.

"We have some very talented players now, I hope our Federation starts to pay them the attention they deserve," he said.

"In my town, called Pilar, is where you will find 70% of our country's players, I hope I can make a difference in Paraguay's basketball.

"Either way, my team and myself will keep representing with pride and Dignity the colors of our country."

Araujo scored at will at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, averaging 21.3 points per game to go with 5 rebounds but despite his best efforts, Paraguay (0-4) did not win single game in the the tournament and were eliminated after the Qualifying Round.

For full and in-depth coverage of the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, go to the official website http://www.caracas2013.com/en/default.asp?lang=en.

FIBA