Narvarte trims Argentina squad

BUENOS AIRES (FIBA Americas Championship U18) - Argentina coach Guillermo Narvarte has trimmed his preliminary squad for the FIBA Americas Championship U18 for men from 17 to 15 players.

Having seen his team win one game and lose one against Uruguay in Buenos Aires last weekend, Narvarte decided to drop Atenas duo Eduardo Spalla and Pablo Heit from his roster.

"These friendlies were useful to evaluate players under pressure," Narvarte told www.deportes.gov.ar.

"And the pressure was double as they played against an international team who have been working together for six months and also because these 17 players were aware that they must win a place in the official squad."

The 15-player team will meet again in Buenos Aires on Friday, one day before moving on to Montevideo for two more games against Uruguay, after which they will fly to USA to take part in the Global Games in Dallas from June 17.

Argentina’s next task will then be the FIBA Americas Championship, which will be played in San Antonio between June 28 and July 2 and will allow four teams to qualify for the 2007 FIBA U18 World Championship.

"We’ll go to San Antonio looking forward to clinching a berth in the World Championship, even though the competition’s system is cruel because the qualification is defined without a play-off," Narvarte added.

"So the first three games will define everything."

Argentina will compete in Group B alongside Canada, Puerto Rico and Bahamas.

Argentina’s preliminary squad: Leandro Cecchi, Sebastian Uranga, Jonatan Machuca (all Ben Hur), Maximiliano Tabieres, Federico Aguerre, Pablo Orlietti (all Atenas), Alexis Elsener (Union Electrica), Sebastian Morales, Nicolas de los Santos (both Gimnasia y Esgrima), Diego Gerbaudo (Regatas), Facundo Pineiro (Quilmes), Enzo Ruiz (Argentino), Fabian Oscar Sahdi (El Nacional), Gonzalo Traverso (Obras Sanitarias), Sebastian Vega (Central Entrerriano).