PAR - It's all about heart

ASUNCION (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Everyone loves an underdog, or so the saying goes.

Paraguay, therefore, the giant outsiders in this summer's FIBA Americas Championship tournament field in Caracas, Venezuela, will have plenty of support when they run onto the court to take on some of the best sides in their zone.

The team will go up against Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Mexico in the qualifying competition for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The coach of Paraguay, Argentinian Ariel Rearte, is excited about the opportunity to coach the squad that begins this year's competition with a game against Argentina, the defending champions, on 30 August.

"The heart that the Paraguayan shows when he defends the jersey is unique in the world," Rearte said.

The coach has announced his preliminary squad for Caracas.

Among the players are the leading scorer off last year's team at the South American Championship in Chaco, Guillermo Araujo, and the leading rebounder, Jose Manuel Fabio.

Araujo averaged more than 16 points per game and Fabio 6.5 boards as Paraguay came in fifth.

Paraguay made their first appearance in 22 years at the 2011 FIBA Americas Championship and were blown away by hosts Argentina and Puerto Rico, but nearly beat Panama and also played Uruguay tough.

Enrique Martinez led that Paraguay side in scoring in Mar del Plata at almost 18 points per game.

Paraguay preliminary squad for FIBA Americas Championship: Javier Martinez, Guillermo Araujo, Bruno Zanotti, Jose Fabio, Junior Peralta, Alejandro Peralta, Cristian Rhodes, Adolfo Lopez, Diego Bareiro, Edison Ortiz, Carlos Vallejos, Federico Mellone, Gustavo Torres, Ramon Sanchez, Jorge Riveros and Fernando Dose Jr.

FIBA