Spain, Serbia rosters approach final shape ahead of EuroBasket 2015

MADRID/BELGRADE (EuroBasket 2015) - Alex Abrines learned on Thursday that he has to withdraw from EuroBasket 2015 preparations due to his plantar fasciitis problem and consequently Spain's preliminary roster is now reduced to 13 players.

"Despite the best efforts of the medical team and the player himself the discomfort in the affected zone because of the plantar fasciitis persists and Abrines will have to prolong his individual treatment process, leaving him with no time to prepare for the EuroBasket," the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) informed in a press release on Thursday.

The Barcelona swingman had to follow treatment ever since the first week of Spain's training camp and did not take part at all in practice with his team-mates for more than 10 days.

Head coach Sergio Scariolo was optimistic however as Abrines finally stepped out in Spain's fourth warm-up game, against Venezuela on Tuesday night, but the diagnosis by FEB's medical team on Thursday shattered the hopes of both the players and the coaching staff.

Scariolo will now have to make one final cut in the next days, as Spain's roster now incudes 13 players.

Xavier Rabaseda has now strong chances of making the final EuroBasket squad and, in the process, debuting with the senior national team in an official game after playing for Spain through all the youth categories.

The explosive 26-year-old small forward who is also a reliable spot-up shooter has enjoyed two stand-out Liga Endesa seasons at Movistar Estudiantes and signed for Herbalife Gran Canaria earlier this summer.

Spain preliminary roster for EuroBasket 2015: Pablo Aguilar, Victor Claver, Rudy Fernandez, Pau Gasol, Guillermo Hernangomez, Sergio Llull, Nikola Mirotic, Xavi Rabaseda, Felipe Reyes, Pau Ribas, Sergio Rodriguez, Fernando San Emeterio and Guillem Vives.

Meanwhile, Serbia head coach Sasha Djordjevic announced on Thursday that he decided to trim his preliminary squad before the team boards the plane to Israel, where they will take part in warm-up games on the weekend.

Young power forward Luka Mitrovic, who was aiming to make his senior national team debut at EuroBasket 2015 and 27-year-old small forward Marko Keselj, who was hoping to return to the squad following a three-year absence, have been released by Djordjevic.

"I still think the same like I did a few days ago, that all 16 candidates we have here deserve to continue to prepare and be on the team for EuroBasket," said the Serbia coach.

"But as we all know only 12 can play at the EuroBasket.

"Luka Mitrovic and Marko Keselj were doing great in training and this decision was made based on tiny details.

"Their work and dedication has earned them the right to be kept into consideration for the next opportunity."

Serbia preliminary roster for EuroBasket 2015: Nemanja Bjelica, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Nemanja Dangubic, Zoran Erceg, Nikola Kalinic, Ognjen Kuzmic, Stefan Markovic, Dragan Milosavljevic, Nikola Milutinov, Nemanja Nedovic, Miroslav Raduljica, Marko Simonovic, Vladimir Stimac, Milos Teodosic.

Go to eurobasket2015.org for complete coverage of EuroBasket 2015.

FIBA