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URU – Osimani’s aim is for Uruguay to reach FIBA World Championship in Turkey
SAN JUAN (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Uruguay guard Martin Osimani is very hopeful that his national side will qualify for next year's FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
Osimani was on the Uruguayan team that claimed impressive wins over Puerto Rico, Panama and Mexico at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas.
Puerto Rico and Panama had just one year earlier played at the World Championship in Japan.
However, Osimani and Co ultimately failed to snatch a place at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens after finishing the Las Vegas event with five defeats.
"We were short because of injuries and this year we will look to make the squad bigger so we won't be tired at the end of the championship," Osimani said.
Though the recent swine flu outbreak in Mexico has raised concerns about this year's FIBA Americas Championship, Osimani is optimistic that everything will be okay once it is time to stage the qualifying event.
"Everybody is waiting to see what happens with the swine flu," Osimani said in Puerto Rico, where he is now on the books of Atléticos de San Germán.
"We are nervous but in Uruguay there are a lot people wanting to start the preparation because there are a lot of expectations after the 2007 tournament where we had a good showing."
One reason why Osimani and others are upbeat about Uruguayan basketball is the improvement of the domestic league (LUB) in the country.
Bigua, who finished third in this year’s FIBA Americas League, are a force on the continent and other teams have gotten better.
"The level has improved," he said.
"Also the level of the imports has improved a lot and the players who play overseas are present.
"They have to improve the organization to become an elite league but it has improved and been worked on a lot."
SAN JUAN (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Uruguay guard Martin Osimani is very hopeful that his national side will qualify for next year's FIBA World Championship in Turkey.
Osimani was on the Uruguayan team that claimed impressive wins over Puerto Rico, Panama and Mexico at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas.
Puerto Rico and Panama had just one year earlier played at the World Championship in Japan.
However, Osimani and Co ultimately failed to snatch a place at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens after finishing the Las Vegas event with five defeats.
"We were short because of injuries and this year we will look to make the squad bigger so we won't be tired at the end of the championship," Osimani said.
Though the recent swine flu outbreak in Mexico has raised concerns about this year's FIBA Americas Championship, Osimani is optimistic that everything will be okay once it is time to stage the qualifying event.
"Everybody is waiting to see what happens with the swine flu," Osimani said in Puerto Rico, where he is now on the books of Atléticos de San Germán.
"We are nervous but in Uruguay there are a lot people wanting to start the preparation because there are a lot of expectations after the 2007 tournament where we had a good showing."
One reason why Osimani and others are upbeat about Uruguayan basketball is the improvement of the domestic league (LUB) in the country.
Bigua, who finished third in this year’s FIBA Americas League, are a force on the continent and other teams have gotten better.
"The level has improved," he said.
"Also the level of the imports has improved a lot and the players who play overseas are present.
"They have to improve the organization to become an elite league but it has improved and been worked on a lot."
TO SYNTHESIZER WE ARE A BIG TEAM
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