MILAN (Euroleague/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - There is little doubt that Felipe Reyes will be in the Spain squad next summer when the country hosts the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

The 33-year-old forward took last summer off and his absence was felt at EuroBasket 2013 in Slovenia where the national team came up short of winning a third straight European title.

The Spaniards finished third but they might have reached the Final or even captured the championship had the likes of Reyes been involved.

If the squad needed anything, it was a combative presence in the low post to complement the play of center Marc Gasol and forwards Victor Claver and Pablo Aguilar.

The rest appears to have done Reyes, one of Spain's all-time greats, a lot of good.

He is once again a vital member of the Real Madrid squad and one reason why the Spanish giants have yet to lose a game this season in Spain's Liga Endesa or the Turkish Airlines Euroleague.

In 16 minutes on Thursday night at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, the 2.04m Reyes had eight points, six rebounds and a block in Real's 78-71 triumph.

The game was played in the same venue where the Euroleague Final Four will be staged next year.

Real are now 8-0 in both Europe and the Spanish Liga Endesa.

The victory in Milan clinched first place in Group B, with Real having already sewn up a place in the Top 16.

"It was another great night for our amazing start to the season," a happy Reyes said after.

"We're happy to stay unbeaten and to get first place in the regular season group.

"It was great to play in the arena that will host the Final Four, full of fans, also attracted by our team.

"I think we played a great first half on both sides of the court, and then controlled the game."

Reyes may be in the shadow of some of the other national team players, which is understandable when considering how successful Pau and Marc Gasol, Juan Carlos Navarro, Serge Ibaka, Rudy Fermandez, Jose Calderon and Ricky Rubio have been in their careers.

In the context of the Euroleague, though, Reyes is one of the all-time greats.

His 1,088 rebounds are the third most in Euroleague history, while his 400 offensive boards rank No. 1.

Reyes has been raising eyebrows in another statistical area this season.

Heading into the campaign, he was a 68.9% shooter at the free-throw line in the Euroleague but in 2013-14, Reyes has nailed 22 of his 23 free-throws for a scintillating 95.7%.

FIBA