Pau Gasol, who will turn 41 on July 6, will play his fifth Olympic Games in Tokyo. The Barcelona pivot will lead the Spanish team that will participate in the Games (between July 23 and August 8) and aspires to win a fourth consecutive Olympic medal, after the silver in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 and the bronze in Rio 2016. Pau Gasol’s call-up for Tokyo was taken for granted after his reappearance two months ago with Barça after two years out due to a serious left foot injury and was confirmed this Saturday by Sergio Scariolo.
The national coach provided a list of 18 players that should be reduced to 12 and in which there will also be the two stars of the 2019 World Cup in Japan won by Spain: Ricky Rubio and Marc Gasol. However, he will not be at the Games Nikola Mirotic, since the Spanish-Montenegrin has resigned from the Olympic event, “for serious and important personal reasons,” according to Scariolo, but he will not be replaced by Serge Ibaka, who had recently operated on his back. The great novelties in the preselection are those of Real Madrid player Usman Garuba and Barça player Sergi Martínez, representatives of a new generation that will join regulars such as Sergio Llull, Rudy Fernández, Víctor Claver or the Hernangómez brothers (Juancho and Willy) and, in this occasion, also Sergio Rodríguez.
Pau Gasol signed for Barça and returned to the Catalan team 20 years later to prepare for the Games and thus fulfill one of the last two dreams of his career -the other was to be proclaimed European champion, but the Catalans lost the final-, after having participated in the highest continental competition and in the Endesa League, crowned with the title. The Sant Boi player has shown to be recovered and even his contribution has been essential for Barça to be proclaimed League champion seven years later.
In 16 ACB League games, the oldest of the Gasols has signed an average of 10.4 points and five rebounds. “We have all seen his great effort to be able to contribute and be useful in his club, being an increasingly important player,” said Scariolo, new coach of Virtus de Bologna, who will combine his new job with that of coach, this Saturday. like he did before with the Toronto Raptors.
“It is a list with two clear characteristics: the continuity of a historical group that is taking its last steps in the national team and a wide group of young or very young players to maintain the competitive spirit,” explained the coach. “It is a list with two clear characteristics: the continuity of a historical group that is taking its last steps in the national team and a wide group of young or very young players to maintain the competitive spirit, “explained the coach.
“But, What are you telling me…?
«Very excited, happy and grateful to be part of La Familia on this special occasion and looking forward to starting the preparation for the Olympic Games. Tokyo awaits us! ”Pau Gasol wrote on his social networks after his call was made official. The pre-list for the Games will therefore be made up of five players from the European runner-up and League champion (Pau Gasol, Víctor Claver, Álex Abrines, Pierre Oriola and Sergi Martínez), and another five from Real Madrid, since apart from Garuba, Llull and Rudy, Carlos Alocén and Alberto Abalde have also been cited. The only other two Spanish teams that are represented are Unicaja and Joventut, thanks to Darío Brizuela and Xabi López-Aróstegui, respectively.
“It is a list with two clear characteristics: the continuity of a historical group that is taking its last steps in the national team and a wide group of young or very young players to maintain the competitive spirit,” explained the coach, who maintains eight internationals who won World Cup gold two years ago, including the championship MVP, Ricky Rubio. The Catalan base had doubts until the last moment about participating in the Games, but “in the end he felt supported by his teammates.” “He called me and asked, ‘Am I still in time to get on the list? And I thought, but what are you telling me …? »Scariolo revealed this Saturday. “This is also a demonstration of humility and how Ricky is as a person,” the Italian coach stressed.
The call for 18:
–Bases: Carlos Alocén (Real Madrid), Sergio Rodríguez (Armani Milan) and Ricky Rubio (Minnesota Timberwolves).
–Listens: Álex Abrines (Barcelona), Darío Brizuela (Unicaja) and Sergio Llull (Real Madrid).
–Eaves: Alberto Abalde (Real Madrid), Rudy Fernández (Real Madrid), Xabi López-Aróstegui (Joventut) and Sergi Martínez (Barcelona).
–Power forward: Víctor Claver (Barcelona), Juancho Hernangómez (New Orleans Pelicans), Pierre Oriola (Barcelona) and Sebas Siz (Chiba Jets Funabashi).
–Pivots: Usman Garuba (Real Madrid), Marc Gasol (Los Angeles Lakers), Pau Gasol (Barcelona) y Willy Hernangómez (Minnesota Timberwolves).
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