As Pau goes, so go Spain

ZARAGOZA (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - The time is quickly approaching when Spain coach Sergio Scariolo must finalize his roster for the Olympics.

The Spaniards have one last warm-up game ahead of Rio de Janeiro, against Cote d'Ivoire on Thursday in Zaragoza, with 15 players still in the squad.

Spain's 15-player squad for Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Alberto Abalde	Alex Abrines	Jose Calderon	Victor Claver
Rudy Fernandez	Pau Gasol	Willie Hernangomez	Sergio Llull
Nikola Mirotic	Juan Carlos Navarro	Felipe Reyes	Pau Ribas
Sergio Rodriguez	Ricky Rubio	Fernando San Emeterio

After a win over Angola, two narrow defeats to Lithuania and a couple of victories over Venezuela, Scariolo believes his players are right where they need to be in their preparations.

Pau Gasol, who appeared in his first game of the summer in the second clash with Lithuania in Malaga, featured in both contests against Venezuela. As his level has gone up, so has that of his teammates. He had 14 points and 9 rebounds in the second contest against the South Americans.

"There has been a feeling that the team has grown in this game," Scariolo said after the second triumph over Venezuela, one Spain won on Monday, 91-55. "We're beginning to see the things that we've been working on. The team has jelled. Pau Gasol's game has triggered a great effect on the rest of the players. His great game is contagious. There is a lot of progress."

Last summer, when Gasol hit top form, Spain jumped on his back and won the EuroBasket in Lille, France. He was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.

Spain will have to hit the ground running at the Olympics because there will be no pushovers in Group B. They will go up against Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Lithuania and Nigeria and will need a top-four finish to advance to the Quarter-Finals.

Spain reached the Olympic Finals in Beijing (2008) and London (2012) and fell to the United States each time. They also went unbeaten at the 2004 Games in Athens before losing to the USA in the Quarter-Finals.

FIBA