tribeathletics.com Panama City, Panama - Junior Tribe menÂ’s basketball player Alex Smith will continue his summer exploits with the Panamanian National Team. The 6-5, 250-pounder was one of 18 players selection to prepare for the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship in Las Vegas, Nev. The national team trials began on Aug. 6 and will continue until the Championship begins Aug. 22. Panama will eventually cut its roster from 18 players to 12 for the Americas Championship. Smith was part of the 12-member Panamanian team that took sixth in the Pan American Games in late July. He played in four of PanamaÂ’s five games at the Pan-American Games, missing the opener against Argentina due to illness. Smith averaged 4.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per game in eight minutes of action. Smith led Panama in field goal shooting, knocking down 75 percent of his attempts from the floor. He turned in his best game of the tournament against the U.S. in the fifth-place game, scoring seven points and pulling down two rebounds. (more)


The 2007 FIBA Americas Championship is a qualifier for the 2008 Olympic Games. The best two teams qualify for the tournament while the other three top teams qualify for a World Olympic Tournament in July of 2008. The World Olympic Tournament is the last chance to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

Panama will take part in Group A at the 2007 FIBA Americas Championship. The preliminary group play rounds begin Aug. 22 and run through Aug. 26. Panama will be joined in its group by Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Mexico and Argentina. Group B at the FIBA Americas Championship consists of the Virgin Islands, Canada, Venezuela, the United States and Brazil.

The Panamanians will meet Uruguay on Aug. 22 at 3:30 p.m. (ET). On Aug. 23, Panama will battle Puerto Rico at 8:30 p.m., before facing Mexico the following day at 3:30 p.m. The Panamanians wrap up pool play against Argentina on Aug. 26 at midnight.
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