Trias waits, and waits, and waits

LONDON (Friday Eurovision) - If Jordi Trias were German, or perhaps Portuguese, there wouldn't be any doubt about his plans this summer. Right now, he'd be able to write the words 'EuroBasket Duty' on his calendar for the first two and a half weeks of September on his calendar.

Jordi Trias, though, a 2.06m forward with Barcelona, is Spanish.

And cracking Spain’s national squad these days is about as easy as creating a piece of modern art and having it hung on the walls of the Prado in Madrid. It's probably not going to happen. 

Trias is 26, and a vital cog in the Barcelona set-up that fights in the ACB and Euroleague wars each season, but he can’t force his way into the national side.

Spain coach Pepu Hernandez won gold at last year’s FIBA World Championship and his philosophy is this - "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."

Just look at the last 365 days for Trias.

When Fran Vazquez pulled out of the squad with a back injury last summer, Hernandez invited Trias, Marc Gasol and Eduardo Hernandez Sonseca to compete for the vacant spot.

Trias was the first to be cut.

"I tried,” he said at the time, “and I am really happy with my team-mates and the work I have done.

“I am happy for Edu and Marc and I leave the national team with a smile."

Gasol ended up travelling with Spain to Japan to help the country achieve its finest ever moment on the basketball floor, a gold medal triumph.

This year, Trias wasn't about to start feeling sorry for himself. Instead, he had his finest moment.

Trias won his own gold medal, earning MVP honors by leading Barca to Copa del Rey glory.

There are now 13 men in the national squad that is preparing for the EuroBasket. Only 12 will make it. Trias is one of the 13 but still, he knows he’s on the outside looking in. 

His fate is tied to the fitness of Jorge Garbajosa, the power forward/center who made last year’s all-tournament team in Japan.

Garbajosa needed ankle surgery earlier this year after getting hurt on NBA duty and needs to prove to himself, and to the medical staffs of both the Toronto Raptors and Spain, that he has fully recovered.

If not, then it appears Trias will play.

And it's not like Trias wants that to happen. No one - not Garbajosa, not Hernandez, not Spanish basketball fans and not Trias - want Spain hero Garba to miss this summer.

On Wednesday, Hernandez called time on Victor Claver and Mario Fernández, telling the duo they could have the rest of the summer off. Trias remained.

Hernandez then gave Trias his senior team debut in a 93-69 mauling of Venezuela at the Palacio Municipal de los Deportes de Chapín de Jerez de la Frontera. Trias treasured the experience. 

"I am happy for the opportunity that was given to me by Pepu, to debut with the national side,” Trias said.

"In the first half, we didn’t defend well but then we improved in this aspect."

Trias had nine points and seven rebounds.

He even showed he could shoot from long range, making his only three-pointer.

"It’s not the numbers that worry me,” he said. “What is important is to have participated with this great group of players."

Jeff Taylor
FIBA