PUR - Injured Fajardo ruled out for Puerto Rico

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SAN JUAN (FIBA World Championship) - Puerto Rico will be without injured Shariff Fajardo for the FIBA World Championship, although the team has received a boost with the news Daniel Santiago will be available.

Fajardo underwent an arthroscopy on his right knee following an injury he sustained in the recent Centrobasket tournament in Panama.

And national team physio Victor Vargas has admitted Fajardo will not be able to play in the upcoming competition in Japan.

"It's impossible for him to be fit for the World Championship," Vargas said.

"Rehabilitation will take him at least four weeks and there's not enough time".

"It wouldn't be wise to play him in an event like the World Championship, that demands you are at full fitness".

"If we included him in the squad, we'd lose the place another player could fill better."

Luis Villafane, Hector Valenzuela or Alex Falcon are all in line to replace Fajardo.

Santiago, meanwhile, has put doubts about his participation in Japan aside by confirming he will play for his country.

"We've talked and now have an agreement (with the Puerto Rican Basketball Federation) and I'll play for Puerto Rico," Santiago told Primera Hora newspaper.

Puerto Rico will face the United States, China, Italy, Slovenia and Senegal in Group D at the FIBA World Championship.

PA Sport