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23 June, 2016
03 July
24/05/2016
News
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Arrigoni selects bigger Argentina for U17 World Championship

BUENOS AIRES (2016 FIBA U17 World Championship) - Argentina will feature an uncharacteristically big team at the 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship as head coach Marcelo Arrigoni selected a 12-man roster averaging 1.98m in height.

The South Americans will have seven players standing at least 1.98m tall including a trio of players 2.08m or taller in centers Cristian Bihurriet (2.08m), Francisco Caffaro (2.12m) and Juan Cruz Germano (2.08m).

The other taller players in the group bound for Zaragoza from 23 June-3 July are Cristian Cardo (1.98m), Ignacio Cuassolo (1.98m), Andres Bodach (2.04m) and Nicolas Franco (2.04m).

Not among the septet of big players is the 1.97m small forward Jonatan Basualdo, who led Argentina in rebounding at the 2015 FIBA Americas U16 Championship with 8.6 boards a contest.

Arrigoni’s group will be much larger than Argentina teams from past U17 World Championships. There were just three Argentineans 1.98m or taller at the 2010 edition while there were five such players in 2012. And two years ago in Dubai, the Argentina squad included just three players 1.98m or taller.

Argentina are drawn into Group B along with hosts Spain, debutants Mali and 2015 U16 European Championship finalists Lithuania.

Arrigoni has decided to make some changes from the third-placed team at last summer’s U16 continental tournament. Seven of the players from that team made cut after three training camps - Franco Baralle, Basualdo, Caffaro, Cardo, Cuassolo, Franco and Lautaro Lopez.

Seven players from the 12-man roster are from the 1999 generation with five being born in 2000.

Juan Ignacio Marcos and Franco Alorda did not make the 12-man selection but will travel with the team to Europe on 12 June for the final training camp in Auch, France. Preparation games are planned against Australia and Canada before the Argentineans will then fly to Zaragoza on 18 June.

Argentina 12-player roster for 2016 FIBA U17 World Championship: Franco Baralle, Jonatan Basualdo, Cristian Bihurriet, Andres Bodach, Francisco Caffaro, Cristian Cardo, Ignacio Cuassolo, Juan De La Fuente, Francisco Farabello, Nicolas Franco, Juan Cruz Germano, Lautaro Lopez.

FIBA