ESP - Defending champions name squad

MADRID (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Two-time defending champions Spain ended months of speculation about their national team for EuroBasket 2013 on Wednesday by welcoming Alex Mumbru back to the national team and also including big men Pablo Aguilar, Xavi Rey and German Gabriel.

Mumbru, a member of Spain's gold-medal winning team at the 2006 FIBA World Championship, retired after the same event in 2010.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Serge Ibaka announced earlier in the day that he would not be able to play in Slovenia this summer, acting on the advice of the NBA club's medical staff.

"I'm saddened not to go to the national team," Ibaka said. "It was my desire."

Some expected Real Madrid forward Nikola Mirotic, the Liga Endesa MVP and an All-Euroleague First Team selection, to replace Ibaka as the country's national team player but he turned down the opportunity.

Mirotic, who was born in Podgorica, Montenegro, moved to Spain at a young age.

He wore the Spanish shirt at the 2011 U20 European Championship in Bilbao and was named MVP of the tournament.

Montenegro have openly stated they would like Mirotic to play for them in international competition and there was no guarantee that Mirotic would be selected by Spain for next year's FIBA Basketball World Cup with teams only allowed one naturalized player.

Spain boss Juan Antonio Orenga, who coached Mirotic when he was in the U20 team, revealed: "Mirotic turned down the possibility to come and play for Spain and he should be the one to explain the reasons why."

Aguilar, Gabriel and Rey have made the team following outstanding seasons in Spain's top flight.

The other eight players selected are not a surprise.

They are Jose Manuel Calderon, Ricky Rubio, Sergio Rodriguez, Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernandez, Fernando San Emeterio, Victor Claver and the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol.

Veterans Juan Carlos Navarro and Pau Gasol had already ruled themselves out of this summer's team but both are expected to play at the World Cup next year.

The EuroBasket is a qualifying event for next year's tournament, with the top six teams advancing.

Spain, as hosts of next year's 24-team event, do not need to qualify.

If they finish in the top six, then the top seven teams at the EuroBasket will advance to the World Cup.

Spain will play this summer in Group C against hosts Slovenia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Poland and Georgia.

FIBA