Wednesday, March 21, 2007

The quest to defend our basketball gold begins

The draw for the FIBA Americas Championship 2007 (Qualifying for the Olympic Games) that will run from August 22nd to September 2nd in Las Vegas, USA, have been conducted and Argentina will share group A with Uruguay, Panama, Puerto Rico and Mexico.

Group B will be formed by United States, Brazil, Venezuela, Canada and Virgin Islands.

The champion and the runner-up will qualify for the Olympic Games in Beijing next year while teams that finish from 3rd to 5th will play another tournament to try and get the ticket to China.

I must say that I´m quite pleased with this draw since we don´t have to play the home team in the first round and we also avoid bitter rivals Brazil, always dangerous Venezuela and Steve Nash-powered (?) Canada.

I think Puerto Rico will be our main threat and you can never give up against Mexico or Uruguay.

I´m really looking forward for this tournament to begin and I hope our big guns can finally wear the Albiceleste in Las Vegas before hopefully going to Beijing to defend our gold.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi There,

Thanks Seba for updating us on this incredible news. Yes it is fantastic news that we have manage to avoid the likes of USA, Brazil, Venezuela and Canada. Overall I would say we are almost certain to make it to Beijing 2008.

However my only fear is that is the team solid enough in the absence of MANU and CHAPU. Mexico and Uruguay might be thinking that this is the right time to pound us unless Luis SCOLA, Carlos DELFINO and the rest step their game.

Is their any promising talent that you feel is capable of filling the hole left by MANU and CHAPU?

Today our Under-17 boys will be playing against Venezuela and I hope this will not be a repeat of the goalless draw we had in the first round. We have to beat them as currently right now we are standing at 3rd place on 6 points in the final group, behind Brazil (9 points) and Colombia (6 points). Goal difference could be crucial here.

John
Malaysia

Anonymous said...

Despite losing to the Philadelphia 76ERS by 106-97, Walter HERRMANN continues his impressive form by notching 17 points and 4 rebounds for the Charlotte BOBCATS.

In another match, there was a reunion between three Tall Albicelestes (Manu GINOBILI and Fabricio OBERTO for San Antonio SPURS and Carlos DELFINO for Detroit PISTONS). In the end Manu had 10 points and OBERTO had none while DELFINO only managed 2 points. The match was won by the SPURS 90-89.

John
Malaysia

Anonymous said...

Hi There Everyone,

It was a real busy weekend packed with exciting EURO 2008 qualifying matches. Surprisingly Argentina was not involved in any friendly international.

But anyway, right now I believe our Under-17 team will be in action against Peru and the situation does not look very promising. Colombia has already finished their match against Venezuela it was a 5-0 win for them (even we failed to beat then on two occasions!!!). So the only way we can able leapfrog Colombia is that we have to trashed Peru at least 7-0. So is there anyone out there would like updating us on what is current score?

NBA News….

Within a space a week, Walter HERRMANN has gone from bench scorer to the starting scorer. Yes!!! Walter was chosen to start for the BOBCATS against the New Jersey NETS, in return he notched up a career high 20 point and 7 rebounds. However the NETS prevail 113-107

Carlos DELFINO had 11 points, 3 rebounds and 4 assists as the Detroit PISTONS beat the Milwaukee BUCKS by 121-95

Later on Manu GINOBILI and Fabricio OBERTO of San Antonio Spurs will take on the Seattle SUPERSONICS. Will update on that later

John
Malaysia