MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Juancho Hernangomez and Alberto Abalde are set to make their bows in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers for Spain after being named in the 16-man squad for upcoming games at Slovenia and at home to Belarus.

Hernangomez made a big splash with Spain in his first tournament with the senior side at FIBA EuroBasket 2017 and then returned to the NBA to play his second season with the Denver Nuggets.

Abalde, a 22-year-old shooting guard/small forward who played for Spain's youth teams, has been added to the group after an impressive debut campaign with Valencia Basket.

Key players in Spain's unbeaten World Cup Qualifiers campaign that are in the squad for the third window are Quino Colom, Fran Vazquez, Sebas Saez, Jaime Fernandez, Xavi Rabaseda, Oriol Pauli, Pablo Aguilar and Javier Beiran.

Spain will square off against Slovenia (2-2) in Ljubljana on June 28 and host Belarus (1-3) on July 1 in Malaga.

"WE'RE AWARE THAT WE HAVE PERHAPS OUR HARDEST OBSTACLE IN THIS FIRST PHASE, PLAYING IN LJUBLJANA AGAINST SLOVENIA, THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS, AND IN AN EXTREMELY FAVORABLE CLIMATE FOR THE HOME TEAM."Spain coach Sergio Scariolo

"Once again we have a young team, and I am personally very excited to meet many of those that deserve to return thanks to the great role they had in the first four games of this phase of qualifying," Spain coach Sergio Scariolo said.

"We're aware that we have perhaps our hardest obstacle in this first phase, playing in Ljubljana against Slovenia, the European champions, and in an extremely favorable climate for the home team." 

Spain and Slovenia traded blows in an exciting first game on November 26, a clash the home side won in Burgos, 92-84. Colom was outstanding for Spain with 25 points and 9 assists.

"And then Belarus," Scariolo said, referring to Spain's second opponent in the third window, "a team that has been growing throughout the competition to the point of giving us a big scare and even beating Slovenia."

Aliaksandr Kudrautsau had 18 points in the game against Spain for Belarus.

"WE HAVE ENTHUSIASM, MOTIVATION, DESIRE TO DO WELL, TO COMPETE ON ONE OF THE MOST COMPLICATED COURTS (LJUBLJANA) AGAINST ONE OF THE MOST COMPLICATED RIVALS OF THIS PHASE, AND TO BE ABLE TO PLEASE THE PUBLIC OF MALAGA.”Scariolo

Belarus trailed by as many as 12 points in that game yet battled back before falling, 84-82. In that game, Vazquez had 14 points and 6 rebounds for Spain.

The home side caused a lot of problems for Spain on the boards, out-rebounding them, 44-32.

Scariolo anticipates two very difficult games but is optimistic that Spain will get two more wins in the third window.

"We have enthusiasm, motivation, desire to do well, to compete on one of the most complicated courts (Ljubljana) against one of the most complicated rivals of this phase, and to be able to please the public of Malaga," he said.

Notable absentees are veteran guard of CSKA Moscow Sergio Rodriguez and Barcelona duo Victor Claver and Pierre Oriola, players that had been named in Spain's 24-man squad on June 12. Also absent are the Gasol brothers, Pau and Marc, Willy Hernangomez and Ricky Rubio, all players at last year's EuroBasket.

FIBA