VEN - “Tapipa” will be trying out for National Team
CARACAS (FIBA Americas Championship 2007) – The star of the Carabobo’s Trotamundos and Lara’s Guerreros, Alejandro “Tapipa” Barrios, is one of the most famous basketball players in the country, and will be trying to became a member of the national team.
CARACAS (FIBA Americas Championship 2007) – The star of the Carabobo’s Trotamundos and Lara’s Guerreros, Alejandro “Tapipa” Barrios, is one of the most famous basketball players in the country, and will be trying to became a member of the national team.
His debut with the national team was at the South American Championship 2004, and his last participation was in Japan, last year, at the World Championships. Barrios is one of the few players summoned by National team’s Head Coach, Nestor Salazar, who was born before 1980.
In a recent visit to the offices of Venezuela’s Basketball Federation (FVB), the 28 years old player declared that he was grateful for being under consideration for the team again.
“I think that the new renovation process through which the national team is currently undergoing is a really good idea, since it is for the future instead of just for now; this will help the National Team’s consistency, as well as giving us (the younger players) a chance to represent the country”.
As part of their preparation process for the FIBA Americas Championship 2007, and in order to avoid the fatigue caused by last year’s training schedule for the FIBA World Championship in Japan, Venezuela’s National Federation has prepared a shorter exhibition games’ schedule, which consists of 3 games in New Zealand, 5 in China, and 1 in Spain.
“This will really help the national team, since we will have a comfortable games’ schedule, which will allow us enough time to rest and to learn how to play together”, said Barrios.
The player assured that he will be present since the first day of practice and that Venezuela will make a good work in Las Vegas, “our group is a strong one, because of the quality that every team has, however, we also have quality and since we are a young team, we really want to win this championship for our country”.
As he was leaving, he declared that “it will always be a pleasure to proudly represent my country and to wear a shirt with Venezuela’s name on it”.
FVB
FIBA Americas