Venezuela fight adversity

CARACAS (2015 FIBA Americas Championship) - Things could be going better for Venezuela in the preparations for the FIBA Americas Championship.

The team's lone NBA player, Greivis Vasquez, has said to the country's media that he is not going to play, thus passing on a chance to try and lead his Venezuela into the Olympics.

And coach Nestor 'Che' Garcia, whose team fought hard at the Pan American Games but suffered several defeats, has lost center Gregory Echenique to a plantar fasciitis injury.

Big man Luis Bethelmy is also hurt and ruled out of the competition that will be played in Mexico City from 31 August to 12 September while Donta Smith is staying away for personal reasons.

Echenique needs around six weeks of absolute rest in order to recuperate completely. - Narvaez

The loss of Echenique, who had desperately wanted to play after skipping the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship, is a tough pill to swallow because he is the big man than Garcia had craved.

The director of the Venezuela national teams, Oswaldo Narvaez, confirmed the pivot was unavailable, adding: "The great majority of injuries that are presented in the group are from chronic muscle strains."

Venezuela reacted to the loss of Echenique by calling up interior players Luis Carrillo, Francisco Centeno, Junior Martínez, Anthony Perez and Manuel Canaval.

The vinotinto will be aiming for a spot in the Final at the FIBA Americas Championship to clinch a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games.

A third-, fourth- or fifth-place finish will seal a berth in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Venezuela will play in Group B against Canada, Cuba, Puerto Rico and Argentina.

Go to fiba.com/Americas2015 for full coverage of the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship.

FIBA