MOSCOW (FIBA EuroBasket 2017 Qualifiers) - Russian star Aleksey Shved announced publicly on Tuesday that he will take part in the national team's qualifying bid this summer.

Speaking to Russian television channel Match TV, the 27-year-old combo-guard of Khimki Moscow Region who missed out on the past two international campaigns said that he wants to help Russia qualify for FIBA EuroBasket 2017.

During the last two years I was not able to come and play for the national team but this summer, I will certainly go. - Shved

The gifted guard also stated that he was excited to work for newly-installed Russia head coach Sergey Bazarevich, who assumed the reins this year and will lead the national team for the first time in the Qualifiers.

"I have already talked with coach Bazarevich and we discussed everything. I am glad that he became coach of the national team because I have known him for a long time and I'm comfortable working with him," Shved said.

Shved had last suited up for Russia at FIBA EuroBasket 2013, following his rookie season in the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He led the team in scoring at the tournament in Slovenia with 16.4 points per game, also averaging 4.8 assists.

He did not play in the qualification round for FIBA EuroBasket 2015, in the summer of 2014, and while he was initially poised to take part at the big event itself last September, he dropped out of preparations because of injury.

Russia won only one of their five games in Montpellier and failed to advance past the group stage.

Shved was a member of the David Blatt-led Russia side which won bronze at FIBA EuroBasket 2011 in Lithuania and repeated the feat the following year at the London Games.

Russia's qualifying campaign for FIBA EuroBasket 2017 gets under way on 31 August, when they play host to Bosnia and Herzegovina in the premiere of Group C. Sweden is the other participant in the only three-team group of the Qualifiers.

FIBA