ESP – Trio relish invitations to train with Spain’s EuroBasket squad

MADRID (EuroBasket 2009) - The exciting Spanish trio of Saul Blanco, Guillem Rubio and Sergio Llull took another step towards stardom this week when they were invited to work out with the Spain team ahead of the EuroBasket in Poland.

New coach Sergio Scariolo announced the 12 players that will compete in Warsaw and as is the tradition in Spain, he also named the three additional squad members who have big futures in the game.

In 2006, Marc Gasol was among the three players invited to the workouts before being called into the national squad after an injury suffered by Fran Vazquez. He went on to play a vital role as Spain won the gold medal at the FIBA World Championship.

Victor Claver was among the three players who trained with Spain before they travelled to last year’s Olympics.

Claver was this year named in the final 12-man squad that will play at the EuroBasket.

"This call-up is a dream for any player,” said the 21-year-old guard Llull, who has also just extended his contract at Real Madrid.

“I am delighted. I am really enthusiastic to be among great players. I want to take advantage and learn from the experience. The national call-up and my contract renewal are rewards for the work I've done. I am very young and I am growing and I think I've had a good season but hopefully the best is yet to come."

Llull, who was drafted early in the second round of the NBA Draft last week and now has his rights owned by the Houston Rockets, will next season have a chance to play for one of the greats in European basketball since Real Madrid have handed the reins to Italian coaching great Ettore Messina.

The 24-year-old shooting guard Blanco, meanwhile, is holding his own training camp this month and shortly after will join the national team.

"The truth is, I don't absolutely mind being without holidays,” Blanco said.

“This is a new experience for me and I approach it with a lot of enthusiasm. I have to thank (Alta Gestion) Fuenlabrada, my coaches and teammates because if I have made it to the national team, it's thanks to their demands that have made me grow as a player."

Guillem Rubio, a 26-year-old power forward/center, is excited to have a chance to play with three of the greatest names in Spanish basketball history.

"This is a reward for my season with Ricoh Manresa,” he said.

“I hope to enjoy the experience of being with great world class players like (Jorge) Garbajosa, (Juan Carlos) Navarro and Pau Gasol."

FIBA