ESP - Rubio looks set for Spain Olympic camp

MANNHEIM (Olympics) - Spanish backcourt phenom Ricky Rubio is almost certain to be headed to the world champions' pre-Olympic training camp with a chance of making the team for the Beijing Games as a back-up point guard.

Pepu Hernandez, the Spain coach, indicated earlier this season that the DKV Joventut star would join up with the senior squad and that likelihood has become even stronger with Rubio enjoying an outstanding campaign with his club.

"Rubio will not be playing at any youth European Championships this summer. Instead we will be bringing him to our Olympic training camp. And we will see if he can make the team," Spanish assistant coach Jota Cuspinera told fibaeurope.com at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament in Mannheim, Germany.

Cuspinera led Spain to the 2006 U16 European Championship gold and guided the same age group to silver last summer, losing in the final to Serbia. Cuspinera served last week as the Spanish coach at the Albert Schweitzer Tournament, which actually was the class to which the ACB powerhouse guard DKV Joventut guard Rubio belongs.

"Ricky is such a great talent. We want him to come to the senior team to get his feet wet and meet the senior players," said Cuspinera, who also is one of Spanish head coach Pepu Hernandez's assistants.

The 17-year-old Rubio, who was the leading power on Spain's U16 2006 title-winning team, is expected to fight for a Spain roster spot as Jose Calderon's back-up along with 21-year-old Sergio Rodriguez and 27-year-old Carlos Cabezas.

FIBA