BUENOS AIRES (Olympics) - Roberto Gabini of Lottomatica Roma has a chance to make Argentina’s Olympic team after being named in the 17-strong preliminary squad for the South America Championship in Puerto Mont, Chile.

The 32-year-old Gabini, a 1.98m forward, played a significant role in Roma’s run to the Top 16 of the Euroleague and also helped fire them into the Lega A play-offs with the second-best record (23-11) in Italy.

With Argentina’s established veterans who are based in the NBA, the Liga Nacional and Europe not required for the event in Chile, the tournament is a chance for Gabini and others to stake their claim for a place in the squad for Beijing.

"There's an idea to begin a renewal process,” said Argentina coach Sergio Hernandez, who lost veteran guard Pepe Sanchez to retirement several weeks ago and also suffered as youngster Walter Herrmann announced he would no longer play for the national side for personal reasons.

“For us, the South American Championship is very important.

"The list for the Olympics is open. Players that are on the list for South American Championship could join or players that don't figure in either list could also join."

Hernandez will not coach the team at the tournament in Chile which will run from July 1-6.

Instead, Hernandez's assistant coach Guillermo Narvarte will lead the side and give his feedback to Hernandez, who successfully led Argentina to Olympic qualification with a silver medal finish at the 2006 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas.

Pablo Prigioni, Antonio Porta, Nicolás Gianella, Emanuel Ginóbili, Carlos Delfino, Andrés Nocioni, Federico Kammerichs, Leonardo Gutiérrez, Fabricio Oberto y Luis Scola will not play in Chile and most will be in Beijing.

"My idea is to take two (point) guards to the Olympics," Hernandez said.

That means with Pablo Prigioni of Tau Ceramica almost certain to start at playmaker, the back-up spot will go to either Porta of Spartak St Petersburg or Gianella of Granada in Spain.

A knee injury has sidelined Porta, a member of last summer’s team, for most of this season.

Scola, the MVP of the FIBA Americas Championship, is coming off a terrific rookie campaign in the NBA with the Houston Rockets, while Ginobili and Oberto are competing in the Western Conference play-offs with San Antonio.

Carlos Delfino had his best season in the NBA after leaving Detroit for Toronto while Andres Nocioni of Chicago remained healthy but endured a losing campaign with the Chicago Bulls.

FIBA