Navarro on verge of fifth Olympic appearance

MADRID (2016 Rio Olympics) - Juan Carlos Navarro is poised to play at a fifth consecutive Olympic Games for Spain after featuring in the 20-man squad named by coach Sergio Scariolo on Monday. 

The EuroBasket 2011 MVP played for his country at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup but was not in the team that captured the EuroBasket 2015 title in France.

There are plenty of veterans in the group but also emerging talent with the players set to meet with Scariolo and his assistant coaches for the start of training camp in Madrid on 1 July. 

Spain 20-player squad for 2016 Rio Olympic Games
Alberto Aalde	Alex Abrines	Pablo Aguilar	Jose Calderon
Victor Claver	Daniel Diez	Ilimane Diop	Rudy Fernandez
Pau Gasol	Marc Gasol	Willy Hernangomez	Sergio Llull
Nikolas Mirotic	Juan Carlos Navarro	Felipe Reyes	Pau Ribas
Sergio Rodriguez	Ricky Rubio	Fernando San Emeterio	Guillem Vives

Spain could end up having many of the same players that were beaten in the Olympic Finals in 2008 and 2012 by the United States, including Navarro. The 36-year-old has been one of his team's biggest weapons against the USA at the Olympics.

In 2008, he poured in 18 points but the USA won that Gold Medal Game in Beijing, 118-107. Four years later, Navarro had 21 points but the Americans prevailed in that title showdown in London, 107-100. Even in their Quarter-Final at the 2004 Olympics in Athens that the USA won, 102-94, Navarro had 17 points.

Scariolo will have a lot of decisions to make regarding his backcourt. Sergio Llull, Sergio Rodriguez, Pau Ribas and Guillem Vives were the guards in last year's team and are all on the preliminary list.

NBA guards Ricky Rubio and Jose Calderon were absent at EuroBasket 2015 but are in the squad.

"I've always considered it necessary, the presence of three guards, because that's where we generate our play," Scariolo said. "The physical condition of Navarro is better than in previous years."

Pau Gasol is a lock to make the final roster but it remains to be seen if his brother, Marc Gasol, is able to play after breaking his foot earlier this year. Marc has been included on the list of 20.

"Marc Gasol still does not yet have the all-clear," Scariolo said.

Nikola Mirotic made his senior team bow last summer and would appear set to take the naturalized spot in Rio with Serge Ibaka unable to play this summer. Scariolo knows Mirotic is an important player but admitted: "To not be able to count on Serge Ibaka has not been a relief but rather a setback because to be able to choose is always a privilege."

Scariolo knows that if his team aspires to reach the summit at the Olympics, it must be able to beat a United States team that will have some absentees from the world title winning squad. There will be no Stephen Curry or LeBron James in the American team, but Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will lead a star-studded cast.

"Besides the players that will be missing from USA Basketball, I think the USA team is going to be better than the one that won the Final at Spain 2014," Scariolo said.

Spain will have the benefit of having Scariolo at the helm, the coach that has led the team to many of its finest moments. Rather than fret about the injury to Gasol and niggles bothering others, Scariolo wants to focus on training.

"Once we start to work, basketball will have the starring role, more than the injury situations," he said.

"The team's selection will be progressive. We will arrive to the 12 after our last friendly but also considering the feeling of the team."

"We will begin the preparation with an important number of promising players that will take a step forward. We've been forced to extend the number of players that will begin training because of the physical conditions (of some players). We begin with a lot of enthusiasm."

FIBA