Che Garcia reduces Venezuela squad to 14

MADRID (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Venezuela coach Nestor 'Che' Garcia has trimmed his squad that is preparing for the Rio de Janeiro Games to 14 players.

The veteran play-caller has an experienced group of players fighting for spots in the team. Among them is center Gregory Echinique, who had to pull out of last year's squad due to injury, and Greivis Vasquez, who elected not to play in 2015.

Heissler Guillent, who suffered a partial tear of his Achilles tendon in January and needed an operation, has been training and playing games with Venezuela and remains in the squad. Also still in the group are the Vargas brothers, Gregory and Jose.

Venezuela 14-player squad for Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Luis Bethelmy	Nestor Colmenares	John Cox	David Cubillan
Gregory Echenique	Windi Graterol	Heissler Guillent	Dwight Lewis
Miguel Marriaga	Anthony Perez	Miguel Ruiz	Gregory Vargas
Jose Vargas	Greivis Vasquez

Venezuela clinched a spot in the Olympics for the first time in 24 years when they edged out Canada in a Semi-Final thriller at last year's FIBA Americas Championship in Mexico City.

In Rio, Venezuela will need to finish in the top two of Group A in order to advance to the Quarter-Finals.

FIBA