By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Spanish national team head coach Sergio Scariolo talked about the four major absences that the squad will have to cope with ahead of the 2019 World Cup.
Spain will play in the tournament minus longtime member Pau Gasol, 2019 NBA champion Serge Ibaka, new Barcelona forward Nikola Mirotic, plus Sergio Rodriguez. While Gasol is out with an injury, Mirotic and Rodriguez officially stated that they won’t join the “Roja” to take a rest.
Ibaka hasn’t made any announcement on his absence yet.
“We would have to ask them. it would be the right thing to do,” Scariolo commented on the absent players. “We had a group of players who could have joined and who, for various reasons, haven’t been able to become available. Of the two naturalized players (Nikola Mirotic and Serge Ibaka), obviously one would’ve entered the roster if they had given us their availability. They didn’t give it to us. Others, like Pau [Gasol], would kill to be there. He hasn’t been able to because of his injury. “Chacho” has explained his reasons with a personal note.”
Spain, a former world champion in 2006, will face Puerto Rico, Tunisia and Iran in Group C of the first phase of the tournament. The first two teams advance to the next round.