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// 11.08.2005

Jorge Garbajosa is 100% fit. Sound the alarm, EuroBasket opponents.

Serbia & Montenegro and Latvia, who are in Group D with Spain, will not have to face Pau Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies as he is resting a persistent foot injury but the other lynchpin in Spain's frontcourt, Garbajosa, is ready.

"Because of the (foot) injury I suffered, last season wasn't great," said Garbajosa at the official presentation of the Spain squad.

Jorge Garbajosa (Spain)
Jorge Garbajosa
"However, I have totally recovered for these European Championships."

Without Gasol, the 2.07m Garbajosa is the man Spain must have to have a chance of reaching the podium again, as they did at EuroBasket 2003 when they captured the silver medal.

He is a player who has great shooting range and also puts the ball on the floor and drives to the basket.

Garbajosa is an aggressive rebounder, and he also has a wealth of international experience.

The former Coppa Italia MVP with Benetton Treviso could be the match-winner for Spain in Serbia & Montenegro.

At the Olympics last summer Garbajosa averaged 13.3 points and almost five rebounds per contest.

"Despite the absences, the most important thing is the group and we all want to prove that we are a good team," Garbajosa said.

"That has already been shown by the fact that some NBA sides have been interested in signing Spanish players," he added in reference to point guard Jose Manuel Calderon, who has joined Toronto on a three-year deal.

"Of course the loss of Pau Gasol is significant because I think he is the best Spanish player ever, but I think we have a very compact squad in which individuals are not important."


 
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