spurschick
06-30-2006, 08:42 AM
Dan McCarney
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA20060630.01D.BKOargentina.fiba.1843d19.html
As the poster boy of Argentine basketball, Spurs star Manu Ginobili mentors his country's younger players through a regular, sometimes daily, series of e-mails.
Most offer encouragement and advice. The batch leading up to the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship for Men also contained a request: Don't let me down in my adopted hometown.
With the favored United States watching closely from the stands, Argentina did its hoops role model proud, fighting off a determined Puerto Rico team 79-77 Thursday at Greehey Arena.
"It's an honor to play in the same city as Manu," said point guard Diego Gerbaudo, who had 18 points and nine assists. "We're very appreciative of everything he does for us. He's opened a big door for us in Argentina."
In addition to advancing to the medal round, Argentina (2-0) qualified for the 2007 FIBA U-19 World Championships.
On an even sweeter level, Argentina avenged a pair of losses to Puerto Rico last week in Dallas at the Global Games.
Those games notwithstanding, Wednesday's opening round gave no indication Argentina was in for trouble. The Argentines crushed Bahamas by 40, while Puerto Rico suffered a 17-point upset to Canada.
That Puerto Rico team was nowhere to be found Wednesday as it took a 75-72 lead into the final minute.
Argentina turned to the dynamic duo of Gerbaudo and Nico De Los Santos, who combined to score five of the team's final seven points.
None of Argentina's players have more Ginobili in him than De Los Santos, right down to his uncanny ability to weave through traffic to his willingness to accentuate contact and draw foul calls from the officials.
He wriggled, weaved and contorted his way to 22 points, leading all scorers.
"Manu is our role model," De Los Santos said. "He sets the example for us."
As good as De Los Santos was, the player most observers raved about was Gerbaudo, a pass-first point guard whose vision drew repeated praise.
One, USA assistant Paul Hewitt, said he's the best non-American in the tournament. Another, a talent scout for Nike, was calling colleagues to see if foreign players were eligible for the summer camp circuit.
Even with Ginobili back in Argentina on vacation, his young countrymen have still been able to bask in their idol's glow. The team took a tour of the Spurs practice facility on Monday, where the players snapped pictures of everything in sight.
Of particular interest was Ginobili's locker, a large picture depicting the Argentine as a Jedi Knight and the pair of championship rings worn by one of the security guards.
"They were going nuts," team host Chuck Japhet said.
If the opening games are indication, Argentina will be heavy underdogs against the U.S. should the two, as expected, reach Sunday's championship game.
But as Argentine coach Guillermo Narvarte said, "Anything's possible."
Just ask Argentina's 2004 Olympic gold medalist.
Express-News Staff Writer
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/stories/MYSA20060630.01D.BKOargentina.fiba.1843d19.html
As the poster boy of Argentine basketball, Spurs star Manu Ginobili mentors his country's younger players through a regular, sometimes daily, series of e-mails.
Most offer encouragement and advice. The batch leading up to the FIBA Americas Under-18 Championship for Men also contained a request: Don't let me down in my adopted hometown.
With the favored United States watching closely from the stands, Argentina did its hoops role model proud, fighting off a determined Puerto Rico team 79-77 Thursday at Greehey Arena.
"It's an honor to play in the same city as Manu," said point guard Diego Gerbaudo, who had 18 points and nine assists. "We're very appreciative of everything he does for us. He's opened a big door for us in Argentina."
In addition to advancing to the medal round, Argentina (2-0) qualified for the 2007 FIBA U-19 World Championships.
On an even sweeter level, Argentina avenged a pair of losses to Puerto Rico last week in Dallas at the Global Games.
Those games notwithstanding, Wednesday's opening round gave no indication Argentina was in for trouble. The Argentines crushed Bahamas by 40, while Puerto Rico suffered a 17-point upset to Canada.
That Puerto Rico team was nowhere to be found Wednesday as it took a 75-72 lead into the final minute.
Argentina turned to the dynamic duo of Gerbaudo and Nico De Los Santos, who combined to score five of the team's final seven points.
None of Argentina's players have more Ginobili in him than De Los Santos, right down to his uncanny ability to weave through traffic to his willingness to accentuate contact and draw foul calls from the officials.
He wriggled, weaved and contorted his way to 22 points, leading all scorers.
"Manu is our role model," De Los Santos said. "He sets the example for us."
As good as De Los Santos was, the player most observers raved about was Gerbaudo, a pass-first point guard whose vision drew repeated praise.
One, USA assistant Paul Hewitt, said he's the best non-American in the tournament. Another, a talent scout for Nike, was calling colleagues to see if foreign players were eligible for the summer camp circuit.
Even with Ginobili back in Argentina on vacation, his young countrymen have still been able to bask in their idol's glow. The team took a tour of the Spurs practice facility on Monday, where the players snapped pictures of everything in sight.
Of particular interest was Ginobili's locker, a large picture depicting the Argentine as a Jedi Knight and the pair of championship rings worn by one of the security guards.
"They were going nuts," team host Chuck Japhet said.
If the opening games are indication, Argentina will be heavy underdogs against the U.S. should the two, as expected, reach Sunday's championship game.
But as Argentine coach Guillermo Narvarte said, "Anything's possible."
Just ask Argentina's 2004 Olympic gold medalist.