Can Martinez and company break Spain's fourth-place curse in Slovak Republic?
MADRID (FIBA U18 European Championship 2017) – Always among medal contenders, Spain head coach Joaquin Prado announced his talent-packed squad for the FIBA U18 European Championship 2017 in Slovak Republic
MADRID (FIBA U18 European Championship 2017) – Always among medal contenders, Spain head coach Joaquin Prado announced his talent-packed squad for the FIBA U18 European Championship 2017 in Slovak Republic.
After heartbreaking fourth-place finishes at the FIBA U16 European Championship and FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2016, the Sergi Martinez-led Spain will be looking to finally break the spell and get on the podium.
Spain 16-player squad ahead of FIBA U18 European Championship 2017 | ||||
Josep Busquets | Raimon Carrasco | Didac Cuevas | Osas Ehigiator | Alejandro Gallan |
Luis Eugenio Garcia | Eric Gonzalez | Miguel Gonzalez | Jose Luis Ibanez | Sergi Martinez |
Pol Molins | Joel Parra | Arnau Parrado | Josep Puerto | Fracisco Salvador |
Alex Tamayo |
Having been one of the FIBA U18 European Championship 2016 standouts with the 1998-born team last year, rising star Martinez headlines the 16-strong candidate list for this year's event.
The 6ft 7in (2.00m) power forward averaged nearly a double-double against older players in Samsun last year and will undoubtedly be the most prized piece in coach Prado's puzzle this summer as well.
The 1999-born generation of Spanish players was similarly unlucky at the FIBA U16 European Championship in Kaunas two years ago, when they were denied a medal by Turkey.
Spain's @Sergimaco Sergi Martinez talks about getting back up when he's knocked down #FIBAU18Europe @baloncestofeb https://t.co/CklkABY0fC
— David Hein (@heinnews) December 18, 2016
In a space of a year, the team has changed significantly, with returning players filling up just 7 of 16 training camp slots, but the main stars – Miguel Gonzalez, Joel Parra, Josep Busquets, Osas Ehigiator – will all be present.
It will be a particularly busy summer for Ehigiator and point guard Pol Figueras, who will be making his debut for the 1999-born team, but already has FIBA U18 European Championship experience from last year under his belt.
Joaquín Prado ya ha seleccionado a los 16 jóvenes que forman la #U18 para el Europeo de 🇸🇰
— FEB (@baloncestofeb) June 27, 2017
LA LISTA: ✏️⬇️https://t.co/fJ5fO7xhk1 pic.twitter.com/ECbDztJuZJ
These two players will represent Spain at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2017 in Egypt at the start of July before joining the U18 team a week into training camp.
Spain will play Italy, Serbia and Ukraine in the Piestany-based Group B of the FIBA U18 European Championship.
FIBA