Vazquez returns to Spain squad ahead of showdown with Turkey
MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Veteran center Fran Vazquez has returned to the Spain squad and promising shooting guard Marc Garcia has joined him.
MADRID (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Veteran center Fran Vazquez has returned to the Spain squad and promising shooting guard Marc Garcia has joined him with Sergio Scariolo's side preparing to face Turkey and Ukraine in a pivotal fifth window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers.
| Spain's 16-player squad for FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers | |||
| Alberto Abalde | Pablo Aguilar | Victor Arteaga | Jonathan Barreiro |
| Javier Beiran | Dario Brizuela | Quino Colom | Jaime Fernandez |
| Sergi Garcia | Marc Garcia | Xabi Lopez-Arostegui | Nacho Llovet |
| Sebas Saiz | Rodrigo San Miguel | Fran Vazquez | Edgar Vicedo |
Vazquez, who is on the books of Zaragoza in the Spanish Liga Endesa, had featured in all six of his country's First Round games but was not on the team in the September window, when Spain opened their Second Round campaign with a 76-65 loss at Ukraine and an 85-82 win at home in Madrid over Latvia.
The 22-year-old Garcia, a standout in Spain's youth teams who has shone for Montakit Fuenlabrada this season in the Basketball Champions League, now has a chance to make his first appearance in the Qualifiers.
If Spain (7-1) win at Turkey (6-2) on November 29 and Ukraine fall at home to Slovenia that same night, the Spaniards will clinch their spot in next year's 32-team World Cup in China. If Turkey beat Spain, they will leapfrog them into first place of Group I.
Sebas Saiz, Quino Colom and Jaime Fernandez - three players that have played in all eight of Spain's games in the Qualifiers - are again included.
Spain will gather next Monday in Guadalajara where it will have three training sessions before leaving for Turkey.
FIBA