ESP - Calderon pulls out of Spain team this summer to rest body

MADRID (EuroBasket 2009) – Spain will host the 2014 FIBA World Championship but their presence at next year’s big event in Turkey is anything but guaranteed. Monday’s announcement that Jose Manuel Calderon won’t help them qualify is certainly a blow to their chances.

The 27-year-old Calderon is coming off an injury-riddled campaign with the Toronto Raptors that ended with him needing a finger operation and he has now revealed that he will not play at the EuroBasket in Poland.

Calderon, who was knocked out of the Olympic Semi-Final against Lithuania and the gold-medal game against the United States last summer with a leg problem, said: "I will not play in September at the EuroBasket in Poland.

“It´s impossible. It has been a very difficult decision. I have to rest a lot.”

The finger problem required Calderon to wear a cast.

"They have taken away the cast and now I am beginning my rehabilitation,” he said.

“In three weeks, I will be able to use the ball and then there will be another three weeks before I can begin to train … in other words, a few months. Moreover, in my leg I have a six centimeter mark that doesn´t allow me to feel comfortable.”

Calderon was on his way to MVP honors at EuroBasket 2007 in Spain before the hosts were upset by Russia in the Final. He was voted to the all-tournament team.

“If it were a World Championship or the Olympics, I still wouldn´t be able to go,” Calderon said.

“My head and my heart ask me to play but my body says enough. If I don´t stop, this could become chronic."

The good news for Spain is that the national team has as much depth at point guard as any country in Europe with Ricky Rubio, Carlos Cabezas, Raul Lopez, Sergio Rodriguez and Victor Sada.

Cabezas, Rodriguez and Sada were not in last year’s squad.

There were so many options in the backcourt last summer for Spain, in fact, that national team coach Aito Garcia Reneses had a hard time finding playing time for the guards.

Calderon’s absence should guarantee more minutes for Juan Carlos Navarro as well.

Navarro, this season’s Euroleague MVP with Barcelona, spent a lot of time on the bench at the Beijing Games.

Cabezas may return to the squad since his former Unicaja Malaga coach Sergio Scariolo is now in charge of the national team.

"I still haven´t gotten used to the idea but it will be difficult to experience the EuroBasket from the outside,” Calderon said.

He has played at the last three EuroBaskets. Before that, he helped Spain win the FIBA World Championship for Young Men in 2001.

“I will support the national team until the end and I will be the number one fan,” he said.

Spain’s fans are also fearful that Los Angeles Lakers superstar Pau Gasol will choose not to play this summer since this is the second straight year that his NBA club has lasted deep into the play-offs.

Gasol will not make that decision until after LA’s season.

“Spain can aspire to everything, regardless of who plays,” Calderon said.

“I hope they bring the gold medal home, something which we are missing. We will continue to be the favorites."

Spain are in the same EuroBasket group as Serbia, Slovenia and Great Britain.

They will need to have a top six finish to earn a spot at the 2010 FIBA World Championship where hosts Turkey and Olympic gold medalists Team USA have already guaranteed spots.

FIBA