Argentina's Delfino reassures absent Ginobili
Jul 7, 2007 - 1:18 PM By Cindy Garcia-Bennett Special to PA SportsTickerBUENOS AIRES, Argentina (Ticker) - Carlos Delfino has sent a comforting message to fellow Argentinian Manu Ginobili ahead of the FIBA Americas Championship this summer.
Delfino, the Toronto Raptors shooting guard, is the only NBA player that Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez will have in his team in the tournament in Las Vegas.
San Antonio Spurs duo Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto, as well as Chicago's Andres Nocioni and Charlotte's Walter Herrmann, have all dropped out of the tournament where the defending Olympic champions will be looking to book a berth in next year's Beijing Games.
Moreover, European-based players Pepe Sanchez and Hernan Jasen have also made themselves unavailable.
"I have read some comments made by Manu in which he said that it was painful to see so many players drop out, but I tell him and the rest of the players to be calm," said Delfino. "We will do our best to qualify for the Olympics. We are going to Las Vegas with that aim.
"They (Ginobili and Company) must rest and recharge the batteries for the Olympics."
For the 24-year-old Delfino, who played limited minutes for the Detroit Pistons last season before being traded to Toronto last month, withdrawing from the national team was simply not an option.
"I like to play for the national team," he said. "I respect everyone's decision and I understand their reasons for withdrawing.
"I am the youngest of them all and I really want to be there. There's more talk about those who have withdrawn than those who are here. But we don't have a terrible team. It's true that we have less of a chance but we are determined to fight."
Argentina have been drawn in Group A with Uruguay, Panama, Puerto Rico and Mexico.
They will be hoping to finish first or second to grab an automatic qualifying place for next year's Olympics.
If Argentina finish third, fourth, fifth or sixth, they will have a chance of reaching Beijing via an additional qualifying tournament to be played next year.
Hernandez's team will face fierce competition from Team USA and Brazil in Las Vegas.
"Perhaps Brazil will think that we are weak but we will go out to beat them," said Delfino, who was a member of Argentina's gold-medal winning side in Athens and played at the FIBA World Championship last summer, helping Argentina to fourth.
Now he knows that much is expected from him and is ready for the challenge.
"I will try to help the team and give my contribution," he said. "The ideal thing is for everyone to help out, after all, our success in recent years has been down to collective play.
"This is my big chance. I know I am going to play more minutes and have a starring role. I hope to take advantage but it's not going to be easy."
No one has shouted yet.
Be the first!
Be the first!
Related News
- Hernandez says absent Argentine stars still in Olympic mix Sep 3
- Team USA captures gold with convincing win Sep 2
- With Olympic bid clinched, U.S. faces Argentina in FIBA final Sep 2
- Nocioni celebrates Argentina's qualification Sep 2
- Scola, Argentina qualify for Olympics Sep 1
- Argentina-Brazil will be 'war' claims coach Hernandez Sep 1
- Bryant dominates first quarter as U.S. wins again Aug 31
- Argentina ready to face Team USA Aug 30
- Argentina remains undefeated with overtime win vs. Brazil Aug 29
- Gonzalez, Argentina blast Venezuela Aug 27
- Delfino injury worry for Argentina Aug 19
- Argentina getting healthy as FIBA Americas approaches Aug 14