MONTEVIDEO (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - Leandro Garcia Morales has decided to call it a day as a Uruguay national team player.

The Montevideo-born shooting guard, who turns 35 next month, should serve as inspiration for those who put on the Uruguay jersey and compete at the FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City this summer (31 August-12 September).

That is so, due to the long and often dazzling career he has enjoyed for clubs and country, and also because of the determination he has shown the past several months while battling back from a serious knee injury.

Garcia Morales tore the ACL in his right knee almost 11 months ago and also hurt his meniscus.

Doctors had expected him to miss up to 10 months.

Instead, after a lot of hard work in rehab, Garcia Morales made it back onto the court after five months.

"I was told that after a year of the operation, I would begin to feel good," he said in a recent interview with El Nuevo Dia.

"In my case, I was feeling pretty good after five months.

"It was five months without playing.

"It was the first time I had a serious injury and that was so long without playing.

"I had to be patient and work as the recovery doctors indicated."

There was no indication that Garcia Morales was going to play for Uruguay this summer in Mexico City and Adrian Capelli, the coach, did not put his name on the list of players for this month's training camp.

This week's announcement that the veteran had decided to retire from the national team did catch some by surprise, though.

It certainly caused everyone to stop and reflect on a player who has been a key man for many years in the Uruguay jersey.

Garcia Morales, who played at five FIBA Americas Championships, never reached a FIBA Basketball World Cup or an Olympics but he did make his mark with Uruguay.

In 2006 and 2008, he helped his country finish runners-up at the South American Championships and in the same tournament in 2012, the Uruguayans came in third.

At the FIBA Americas Championships, Garcia Morales had some big games.

In Uruguay's 79-73 upset of Brazil at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, he poured in 16 points and also set up opportunities for others. 

As for the players who are still in the national team set-up, the timing was not good for Sebastian Izaguirre to play for Uruguay at the FIBA Americas Championship.

The 2.00m center will not be with the team at the tournament but instead with his wife, who will give birth in a few months.

Izaguirre is therefore not with the national squad which is right now already being put through its paces by coach Capelli.

"I am going to be a father in a few months and I want to be at home," Izaguirre said to the Uruguayan media.

Almost all of the players are available and they are all very good. - Izaguirre

"I was not going to be 100 percent as I have in the past.

"I asked him that this year not to be called up, and he understood perfectly.

"My place will be taken by a player that is totally focused on playing.

"It's something that I've thought about and this year I need to dedicate to personal matters."

Izaguirre is confident that Uruguay will have a competitive team.

"We always lack something, but I hope that this time things will go well."

Someone who may end up being a factor is Alejandro Acosta.

The 1.86m guard wants to make the most of the opportunity after being named in the preliminary squad.

The idea is to have reference players and if we have all the roster available, we can do well. - Acosta

"It's my first call-up," Acosta said.

"I am very happy. On different occasions, various injuries made it difficult to be called up.

"I am really enthusiastic about everything that I have experienced.

"I was not expecting it but I was called and told the coach had me in his plans and then I got a phone call from Adrian Capelli.

"I still feel like it's a long time away but to already be in the selection process makes me really excited."

Go to fiba.com/Americas2015 for complete coverage of the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.

FIBA