ESP - Gasol gives EuroBasket thumbs-up for Spain

BARCELONA (EuroBasket 2011) - Pau Gasol will play for Spain this summer when they try to defend their EuroBasket 2009 title and qualify for next year's Olympics.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar arrived back in his homeland on Thursday following his latest NBA season and said: "This year I intend, if the coach wants me, to help Spain win the European Championship."

Gasol missed last year's FIBA World Championship to take a well deserved rest but with Olympic qualification on the line in Lithuania this year, his return is great news for Spain.

Spain will play in Group A against Turkey, hosts Lithuania, Great Britain, Poland and one of the teams that books place in the Additional Qualifying Round.

FIBA