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Nuno Cortez In The Frame For EuroBasket-Chasing Portugal
Portugal coach Moncho Lopez is looking to bolster his frontcourt ahead of the Additional Qualifying Round games for the EuroBasket and Ovarense big man Nuno Cortez is in strong contention to earn a place in the squad.
Lopez is to gather a 14-man group on June 21 to begin preparing for the qualifying games and the 26-year-old center Cortez is expected to get a call from the national team boss.
"Nuno Cortez is a player who worked with us on previous occasions but has never made to the final squad," Lopez said to Basketball World News.
"He is now in a good form to make it to the final 12 players.
"I should say that he is a player to consider.
"He is living a very interesting, competitive moment in his career."
Cortez played in the Portuguese league finals but wasn't able to carry his team to victory over Benfica.
Portugal will play against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Belgium in Group A of the Additional Qualifying Round.
Should Lopez's team finish top of that pool, they will take on the winner of Group B (France, Italy or Finland) for the right to play at the EuroBasket.
The preparation period is very important for Lopez and his players.
"We are aiming to consolidate our tactical game and will try to incorporate new players," Lopez said.
Portugal will play in the Lusofonia Games, to be staged in Lisbon, starting on July 8 and will face Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.
Following the Lusofonia Games - an event that includes all Portuguese speaking countries - the Portugues will take part in another international tournament in Almada, near Lisbon, and go up against Brazil, Angola and Finland.
Portugal coach Moncho Lopez is looking to bolster his frontcourt ahead of the Additional Qualifying Round games for the EuroBasket and Ovarense big man Nuno Cortez is in strong contention to earn a place in the squad.
Lopez is to gather a 14-man group on June 21 to begin preparing for the qualifying games and the 26-year-old center Cortez is expected to get a call from the national team boss.
"Nuno Cortez is a player who worked with us on previous occasions but has never made to the final squad," Lopez said to Basketball World News.
"He is now in a good form to make it to the final 12 players.
"I should say that he is a player to consider.
"He is living a very interesting, competitive moment in his career."
Cortez played in the Portuguese league finals but wasn't able to carry his team to victory over Benfica.
Portugal will play against Bosnia and Herzegovina and Belgium in Group A of the Additional Qualifying Round.
Should Lopez's team finish top of that pool, they will take on the winner of Group B (France, Italy or Finland) for the right to play at the EuroBasket.
The preparation period is very important for Lopez and his players.
"We are aiming to consolidate our tactical game and will try to incorporate new players," Lopez said.
Portugal will play in the Lusofonia Games, to be staged in Lisbon, starting on July 8 and will face Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Mozambique and Guinea-Bissau.
Following the Lusofonia Games - an event that includes all Portuguese speaking countries - the Portugues will take part in another international tournament in Almada, near Lisbon, and go up against Brazil, Angola and Finland.
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