TURKEY BOUND – Spain future bright with Marc Gasol

MEMPHIS (2010 FIBA World Championship) – If Spanish basketball fans are fretting over their national team's chances at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey with Los Angeles Lakers superstar Pau Gasol yet to announce if he will play, they shouldn’t be.

That’s because Gasol’s brother, Marc, continues to put up big numbers for the Memphis Grizzlies and is helping turn the Tennessee outfit turn into a winning team.

Gasol poured in 22 points and corralled nine rebounds in his latest effort, a 128-103 thumping of the Phoenix Suns on January 2.

The seven-footer is averaging 20 points and 10 boards over his last three games. He has hit 22 of his 31 shots from the floor.

Memphis are 16-16, good enough for 10th in the Western Conference.

Spain will take on Lithuania, France, Lebanon, New Zealand and Canada in Group D of the FIBA World Championship in Turkey.

FIBA