| 07.07.2005 From Paul Giblin, PA International, Madrid
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Pau Gasol
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| Pau Gasol has been left out of the Spain squad for EuroBasket 2005, which was announced on Thursday by the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB).
There have been question marks over the inclusion of the Memphis Grizzlies star due to a long-standing foot problem, with the NBA side eager for their player to be given some rest, and the FEB have now brought the speculation to a close.
"We delayed (the squad announcement) to try to have him with us but in the end we looked at the calendar and his physical and contractual situation, and we agreed, in order to guarantee his presence with us in the future, that he does not play with us this time," said president Jose Luis Saez.
Gasol, 25, was a pivotal player for Spain as they clinched the silver medal at the 2003 EuroBasket in Sweden but they will have to do without him this time round. Coach Mario Pesquera has called back seven players that competed at the Athens Olympics last year - Jose Manuel Calderon, Rudy Fernandez, Juan Carlos Navarro, Iker Iturbe, Carlos Jimenez, Jorge Garbajosa and Felipe Reyes - where Spain finished a disappointing seventh.
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Sergio Rodriguez will make his debut for the senior team
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| Sergi Vidal, Albert Miralles and rising Under-20 star Sergio Rodriguez will make their debut with the senior team having been included in Pesquera's 15-man squad while Alex Mumbru and Inaki de Miguel return to the national team. Spanish giant Fran Vazquez, who was recently chosen in the first round of the NBA draft by Orlando Magic, will also take part in the EuroBasket, to be staged in Serbia & Montenegro from September 16-25. Spain begin preparations on August 9 and will travel to Belgrade on September 14 two days before they make their debut against the hosts in Novi Sad.
Squad:
Jose Manuel Calderon (Tau Ceramica), Sergio Rodriguez (Adecco Estudiantes), Carlos Cabezas (Unicaja), Juan Carlos Navarro (Barcelona), Rudy Fernandez (DKV Joventut), Sergi Vidal (Tau), Carlos Jimenez (Adecco Estudiantes), Iker Iturbe (Adecco Estudiantes), Alex Mumbru (DKV Joventut), Fran Vazquez (Unicaja), Felipe Reyes (Real Madrid), Jorge Garbajosa (Unicaja), Inaki de Miguel (Etosa), Antonio Bueno (Real Madrid), Albert Miralles (unattached). |
