FIBA Basketball
BRA - Injured Splitter set to recover and play for Brazil in Japan
PRAGUE (FIBA World Championship) - Tests on the shoulder injury suffered by Tau Ceramica's Tiago Splitter have indicated the Brazilian international is not in danger of missing the FIBA World Championship. The 21-year-old center pulled a ligament
PRAGUE (FIBA World Championship) - Tests on the shoulder injury suffered by Tau Ceramica's Tiago Splitter have indicated the Brazilian international is not in danger of missing the FIBA World Championship.
The 21-year-old center pulled a ligament in his left shoulder while fighting for a rebound in the first half of Tau's 85-70 loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv in Friday's Euroleague semi-final and did not play anymore.
Splitter, who will undergo further tests next week, will be sidelined for two
weeks.
"I think the problem hasn't changed my mind to stay with the national team
for the World Championship. It's no problem," he told PA Sport in Prague.
Still, Splitter thought the injury was serious at first.
"I feared I needed an operation," Splitter said. "I hope it's nothing serious.
"It was very painful during the game and I had to have painkillers afterwards. I couldn't put my arm up."
Tau team doctor Alberto Fernandez called the injury "common" after the team
took an MRI Friday night.
"We feared that he may have had a torn tendon. We will have to do another
MRI next week. We will see if he may need any additional treatment. He will
be out of action about 15 days," Fernandez said.
Splitter said on Saturday that he's feeling better already and admitted Tau's loss to Maccabi was more painful.
"The defeat hurts me more," he said. "It's a blow to lose and to lose the way we did. Now we must focus on what's left - the domestic league."
Splitter is still unclear if he will declare for this June's NBA Draft, in which he is expected to be one of the first big men to be picked.
"I don't know," he said.
"It's hard to say. Everybody is looking at me. I have to listen around some more.
"Everybody knows the problems."
Splitter still has two years remaining on his contract with Tau and they will not want to let him go unless they make a big profit.
"We have to look and see what happens with this draft," Splitter said.
From David Hein, PA Sport, Prague Exclusively for FIBA
The 21-year-old center pulled a ligament in his left shoulder while fighting for a rebound in the first half of Tau's 85-70 loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv in Friday's Euroleague semi-final and did not play anymore.
Splitter, who will undergo further tests next week, will be sidelined for two
weeks.
"I think the problem hasn't changed my mind to stay with the national team
for the World Championship. It's no problem," he told PA Sport in Prague.
Still, Splitter thought the injury was serious at first.
"I feared I needed an operation," Splitter said. "I hope it's nothing serious.
"It was very painful during the game and I had to have painkillers afterwards. I couldn't put my arm up."
Tau team doctor Alberto Fernandez called the injury "common" after the team
took an MRI Friday night.
"We feared that he may have had a torn tendon. We will have to do another
MRI next week. We will see if he may need any additional treatment. He will
be out of action about 15 days," Fernandez said.
Splitter said on Saturday that he's feeling better already and admitted Tau's loss to Maccabi was more painful.
"The defeat hurts me more," he said. "It's a blow to lose and to lose the way we did. Now we must focus on what's left - the domestic league."
Splitter is still unclear if he will declare for this June's NBA Draft, in which he is expected to be one of the first big men to be picked.
"I don't know," he said.
"It's hard to say. Everybody is looking at me. I have to listen around some more.
"Everybody knows the problems."
Splitter still has two years remaining on his contract with Tau and they will not want to let him go unless they make a big profit.
"We have to look and see what happens with this draft," Splitter said.
From David Hein, PA Sport, Prague Exclusively for FIBA