BUENOS AIRES (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - Argentina did not make it to the podium of the Pan American Games staged in Canada recently but the national team nevertheless has an extra bounce in its step with the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City less than a month away.

Stalwarts Luis Scola and Andres Nocioni were missing in Toronto but are now with the squad, along with Facundo Campazzo and Selem Safar.

All four were members of last year's squad at the FIBA Basketball World Cup in Spain, where Argentina made it to the Round of 16.

Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez was left encouraged by what he saw from the latest training session.

The first practice was much more fluid than I thought it would be. - Hernandez

"I thought it would be much more of a grind and that I would have to intervene many more times," Hernandez said.

"But it went very smoothly.

"I am very happy with what we are doing."

Argentina have a coupe of warm-up games coming up in Brasilia against the Brazil and Uruguay, games that will be played 7 and 9 August.

Hernandez's side will then take part in a four-team tournament 14- 15 August in Tecnópolis, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela participating.

Argentina take on Uruguay in another friendly in Buenos Aires two days later before traveling to San Juan, Puerto Rico, for more games.

Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico will be present with the Argentinians.

Hernandez's Argentina will play in Group B at the FIBA Americas Championship (31 August - 12 September) against Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Venezuela.

The sides that reach the Final of the even will clinch places in the Rio de Janeiro Games while the teams that come in third, fourth and fifth will claim berths in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Argentina preliminary squad for 2015 FIBA Americas Championship: Federico Aguerre, Nicolas Aguirre, Matias Bortolin, Nicolas Brussino, Facundo Campazzo, Gabriel Deck, Marcos Delia, Pablo Espinoza, Tayavek Gallizi, Patricio Garino, Franco Giorgetti, Nicolas Laprovittola, Leo Mainoldi, Marcos Mata, Andres Nocioni, Nicolas Richotti, Selem Safar, Luis Scola, Juan Manuel Torres and Luca Vildoza.

Go to fiba.com/Americas2015 for more coverage of the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.

FIBA