VEN - A late boost for the hosts

CARACAS (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - The much-travelled Donta Smith has enjoyed a lot of success on the hardwood, including most recently in Israel where he played a vital role for Maccabi Haifa in their championship-winning side.

On Saturday, Venezuela basketball supremo Carmelo Cortez revealed that the 29-year-old Kentucky native had become a citizen of the country, thus making him available to play for the host nation at the FIBA Americas Championship in Caracas.

The small forward who suited up for Marinos de Anzoategui in the Venezuelan league in 2010 and competed along national team players Hector Romero, Gregory Vargas and Oscar Torres should figure prominently in the team coached by Nestor 'Che' Garcia.

"The Venezuelan Basketball Federation (FVB) welcomes to the national team Donta Smith, who by election and desire is now one more Venezuelan," Cortez said in a tweet.

"Smith decided to ask for the nationality and stated a couple of months ago to the FVB his desire to be a Venezuelan and to wear the national team jersey.

"After hearing of Donta Smith's desire, we offered our cooperation and we supported him and accompanied him through all the stages he had to go through.

"We are sure that he will be an important addition to this national team. He'll join the team today (on Sunday). As a Venezuelan and president of the federation, I want to thank Donta Smith for his desire to be one of us and his wish to defend our flag."

Venezuela, who are playing without their best known player Greivis Vasquez while the guard recovers from ankle surgery, need a spark on offense and the 2.01m Smith should be able to provide it.

With Maccabi Haifa, who have just signed him to a new contract, he excelled under Brad Greenberg, a veteran coach who worked as an assistant on the Venezuela staff that was led last summer at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament by Eric Musselman.

In the 86-79 upset off Maccabi Tel Aviv in this year's Israeli League Final, Smith had 12 points, seven assists and six rebounds.

He averaged 16.8ppg, 5.3rpg and 5.2apg during the regular season.

In the summer of 2012, Smith played for Indios in Puerto Rico's top flight and helped fire them to the title.

A former NBA draft pick by the Atlanta Hawks, Smith has had stops all over the globe, including China, Australia and South America.

Venezuela will play in Group B at the FIBA Americas Championship with Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Paraguay, an event that gets underway on Friday.

The top four sides in the tournament will clinch places in the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain.

FIBA