MADRID (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - If one looks at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship objectively, there can be only one assessment.

The event that will be staged in Monterrey, Mexico, from 25 August to 6 September, should be a wide-open competition.

Several national teams have realistic hopes of getting to the Final and qualifying for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and that includes Argentina.

There are some very important factors weighing in Argentina's favor.

First and foremost, one of the greatest players in South American basketball history, power forward Luis Scola, will once again lead the national team.

Second, there is the return to the helm of Sergio Hernandez, a coach who knows all there is to know about Argentina basketball, the man who held the reins of the team from 2005 through 2010 and also served as an assistant to successor Julio Lamas.

Third, Carlos Delfino has made it clear that he wants to return to the national side after a couple of years out of action with a foot injury.

When healthy, Delfino can carry a team on his back.

And fourth, Andres Nocioni says he is still interested in being on the national team as it tries to reach the Final and qualify for the Rio de Janeiro Games.

"If I finish the season well physically, there are possibilities that I will go to the FIBA Americas Championship," the 35-year-old wrote in his ESPN Deportes blog.

"I have already communicated this to Sergio Hernandez through WhatsApp (even though we're old, we use technology)."

The closer the tournament comes, the more my desire grows to play. - Nocioni

Having championship-winning veterans blend in with up-and-coming talent is probably the best way to ensure continued success for any national team, so it will not be surprising to see Nocioni yet again in the Argentina shirt that he has proudly worn since helping his country reach the Final of the 2002 FIBA Basketball World Cup in Indianapolis.

Good health permitting, he will be there.

Nocioni looked very good at times last summer when he played for Argentina at the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

He averaged 8.8 points and five rebounds per game at Spain 2014.

The 35-year-old has been very effective this season with Real Madrid in the Turkish Airlines Euroleague, helping the club reach the Final Four.

The highlight of his career has been helping Argentina capture a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Nocioni also had proud moments with his national side in 2008 at the Beijing Games, where Argentina upset Lithuania in the Bronze Medal Game, and three years later, when his country hosted the FIBA Americas Championship in Mar del Plata and finished top of the podium.

Delfino was a part of those successes, too, and his possible presence, Nocioni says, is very good news for Argentina.

He [Delfino] had to go through very difficult times and it's a great joy that he is coming out of that difficult situation. - Nocioni

"Carlitos hasn't played for two years and hopes to be able to return," Nocioni said.

"It's not just about how good it would be to have him in the national team but also for his own good."

Argentina will play in Group B of the FIBA Americas Championship against Canada, Cuba, Venezuela and Puerto Rico.

The top four sides will advance to the next round and meet the best four sides that come out of a Group A which includes Brazil, Mexico, Panama, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.

Go to fibaamericas.com/mex2015 for full coverage of the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.

FIBA