CZE - Veteran Welsch back in the big show

PRAGUE (EuroBasket/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - There was never any doubt that Jiri Welsch would play for the Czech Republic this summer at the EuroBasket in Slovenia.

Those who felt when he turned 34 in late January that Welsch would call it a day on the international scene were wrong.

Having made his first EuroBasket appearance back in 1999, when the tournament was held in France, he is the senior member of the squad for this year's tournament that has been announced by coach Pavel Budinsky.

"I never thought about it," Welsch said.

"With the team last year, I spent a sensational summer when we advanced from the qualification."

The Czechs advanced to the Final Round after surviving a difficult group that included Italy and Turkey.

Unlike 2007, when the Czechs last played in the Final Round of EuroBasket in Spain, the tournament field has 24 teams instead of 16.

The Czechs will be in Group C with Poland, Spain, Slovenia, Croatia and Georgia in the opening round.

"Realistically, we should have a chance especially against Poland and Georgia, although they will also be strong rivals," said Welsch.

The shooting guard, who has played for big clubs in Europe and competed in the NBA, remembers how it was when he first played for the senior team, back in 1999.

Things were a lot different, then, when almost all the Czech players were with clubs on the domestic front.

"We had no idea what might happen there," Welsch said.

"That's the biggest difference compared to today, that a number of guys play in foreign teams."

For Czech fans, that foreign experience will hopefully be a huge asset.

The EuroBasket is a qualifying event for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Czech Republic squad for EuroBasket: Jiri Welsch, Tomas Satoransky, Michal Carnecky, Jakub Kudlacek, Vojtech Hruban, Pavel Pumprla, David Jelinek, Lubos Barton, Jan Vesely, Ondrej Balvin, Petr Benda, Pavel Houska, Jakub Houska and Kamil Svrdlik. On stand-by: Jaromir Bohacik, Adam Ciz, Martin Gniadek, Tomas Hampl, Ondrej Kohout, Pavel Slezak, Tomas Pomikalek, Ondrej Starosta, Lubos Stria and Jakub Sirina.

FIBA