3x3 - Reigning champions Spain call on top talent for title defence

MADRID - Spain enter this week's FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships, presented by Nike, as the reigning champions in the girls' competition.

As they begin the defence of the title they won in Rimini, Italy last year, the Spaniards have an added bonus as they get to play on their home soil in the city of Alcobendas, situated outside the nation's capital of Madrid.

While it's always a huge boost, home court advantage alone does not guarantee a win.

Just ask the Italians, who hosted the inaugural 3x3 U18 World Championships in 2011 and whose girls' team came agonizingly close but in the end lost the Final to Spain 16-15.

That is why Spain have brought some of the very best talent available for their 2012 Girls Team.

Returning from last year's winning team is towering Astou Barro Ndour.

In 2011, the 1.96m centre helped Spain to victory in Rimini and starred for Spain's girls as they claimed a bronze medal at the FIBA U19 World Championship in Chile and a silver in the U18 European Championships.

Joining Ndour will be Leticia Romero, another star in the making who helped Spain to a silver medal at last month's FIBA U17 World Championship for Women and was rewarded for her fine play by being named to the All-Tournament Team.

Rounding out the roster for Spain's girls team are Ariadna Pujol - who also played a leading role at the U17 in Amsterdam - and Rocio Trigueros, a pair of players who have a wealth of experience playing on national youth teams.

FIBA