Pau Gasol, the best player in the history of Spanish basketball, has been named by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) ambassador of Mundobasket 2023, which will be held in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia. He will share a role with an old man known as the Argentine Luis Scola.
In 200 days the basketball world championship will begin in which Spain will defend the title it won in Beijing in 2019. It was no longer there Pau Gasolbut Scariolo’s team managed to return to the top of the podium and hang the gold that Sant Boi already achieved in Japan in 2006.
Precisely, the Japanese country will be one of the hosts of this great tournament. And there, although as global ambassador of the competitionGasol will be present, as announced by FIBA in a video in which the former player talks about the thorn in his side of not having been able to play the final of that World Cup in which Spain, for the first time, hung the gold medal.
In that 2006 World Cup, Gasol was injured in the semifinal against Argentina after a setback against Oberto. Could not play the final against Greecebut his averages of 21.2 points and 9.4 rebounds per game with 63.1% shooting from the field remained, which earned him the MVP of the tournament.
Now, already retired, dedicated to his Foundation, member of the IOC Athletes Commission, enjoying golf and waiting for the Lakers to retire his jersey with the number 16, Pau will have another facet to focus on.
“It is a great honor for me to be part of such an impressive team and to join Luis Scola, a true legend and one of my toughest opponents, in this role as global ambassador for the World Cup 2023“, declared Pau Gasol.
