ESP – Calderon looks ahead to Lithuania

WASHINGTON DC (London 2012) – Spain point guard Jose Calderon admits the national team is going to be under a lot of pressure at next year’s EuroBasket in Lithuania.

Calderon was hurt and couldn’t play in Poland, when Spain overcame hard times at the start of the event to capture the European title for the first time.

He was ready to play at the FIBA World Championship in Turkey back in August before an injury just days before the start of the event ruled him out and Spain were knocked out by Serbia in the Quarter-Finals.

In 2006, Spain captured the world title and earned an automatic berth to the 2008 Olympics but now they must qualify.

“Yes, perhaps more than ever,” Calderon said, when asked about the importance of the EuroBasket to Spain.

“It will be a major EuroBasket…This time we must qualify for the Games. We cannot miss competing at London 2012.”

The United States won the world title this year to snatch the automatic place for London but didn’t have any of the players from the gold-medal winning side of 2008 in Beijing.

Two leaders in that title-winning side in China, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, have confirmed they want to play in London and Calderon isn’t surprised.

“The Olympics are very special,” he said in an interview with the FEB.

“They were there last time and I think they'd like to repeat.

“Every athlete wants to compete in such appointments. Hopefully all these great players are there, and us.”

FIBA