Argentina U16s lose two friendlies in Spain at start of 11-game European tour
MADRID (FIBA Americas U16 Championship 2017) - Argentina’s preparations for the FIBA Americas U16 Championship 2017 began in Spain with two losses to Madrid clubs in the early stages of 11 games in 15 days culminating in an eight-team tournament in Turkey.
Head coach Diego Lifschitz selected a 14-man team to make the trip to Europe, including 11 of the 12 players who helped Argentina qualify for this summer’s FIBA Americas U16 Championship, which will take place from 14-18 June in a yet undetermined site.
The team features Gaston Bertona, who led Argentina in scoring and assists as they won the South American U15 Championhip 2016. Also one of the leaders is Tomas Chapero, who was the top rebounder and third-leading scorer last summer.
The only player from the U15 team missing on the European trip is Franco Perez while Lifschitz added three more 2001-born players to the group - Joaquin Marcon, Ezequiel Paz and Juan Scacchi.
| Argentina's 14-member U16 squad for their European tour | |||
| Ignacio Aman | Gaston Bertona | Tomas Chapero | Lucas Gallardo |
| Lucas Garcia | Bautista Lugarini | Joaquin Marcon | Juan Pablo Maritano |
| Maximo Milovich | Ezequiel Paz | Lautaro Pividori | Juan Scacchi |
| Francisco Tarnowyk | Ignacio Varisco | ||
The opening game of the tour, which saw the South Americans leave home on Thursday January 19, came on January 21 against Real Madrid’s U16 team at the Ciudad Deportivo Arena. The Spanish powers dominated Argentina with a 108-37 victory with Bertona leading the way for Lifschitz’s team with 11 points. Argentina trailed 49-14 at halftime but found a bit more rhythm offensively in the second half.
The Argentineans were much stronger in the second game on January 23 with a 60-59 loss against Estudiantes Madrid’s U16 team. Francisco Tarnowyk paced the South Americans with 13 points. Argentina were leading 59-57 with 24 seconds left but Estudiantes scored a three-point play on the final play of the game to secure the win.
"We are where we expected to be at this stage. We are trying to adjust our team play aspects from the previous days," Lifschitz said early on in the trip.
To participate in this (TBF U16) tournament will be a huge help for us since it allows us to face high level teams in preparation for the FIBA Americas (U16 Championship). This is the best way for us to prepare for such an important event." - Lifschitz
Argentina now move onto Serbia to Novi Becej on the outskirts of Belgrade for two friendlies against the Serbian U16 team on January 25 and 26.
The journey continues the next day with a flight to Turkey to play in the eight-team TBF U16 tournament in Konya. Four nations have pulled out of the event meaning all eight teams will play each other so Argentina will get a chance to face the U15 and U16 Turkish national teams, Bulgaria, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine from January 28 to February 4.
"To participate in this tournament will be a huge help for us since it allows us to face high level teams in preparation for the FIBA Americas," Lifschitz said. "This is the best way for us to prepare for such an important event."
Argentina will then head home on February 5.
FIBA
