Scariolo reduces Spain squad to 16 players

MADRID (Rio 2016 Olympic Games) - Guillem Vives and Pablo Aguilar reached the top of the podium with Spain at last year's EuroBasket but neither will make his Olympic debut next month after being cut from the squad by coach Sergio Scariolo.

Vives and Aguilar enjoyed good campaigns with Valencia Basket and Gran Canaria, respectively, and had been training with Spain in Madrid. Both were released from national team duty on Monday ahead of Tuesday's friendly in Burgos against Angola.

The two did not log many minutes at EuroBasket 2015, where Spain captured a third title in the last four editions of the event.

Unicaja Malaga's Dani Diez and FIATC Joventut's Alberto Abalde were also in the preliminary squad but have been let go by Scariolo.

"They will leave the camp after helping us a lot in the last days, Guillem Vives, Dani Diez, Alberto Abalde and Pablo Aguilar," Scariolo said on FEB.com.

"The rest will travel this afternoon to Burgos although not all will be able to play tomorrow in Burgos because it is not a game to take risks. At the same time, all will be reincorporated after the game in Burgos and we'll keep working and will eventually reduce the squad.

Spain 16-player preliminary squad for Rio 2016 Olympic Games
Alex Abrines	Jose Calderon	Victor Claver	Ilimane Diop
Fernando San Emeterio	Rudy Fernandez	Marc Gasol	Pau Gasol
Willy Hernangomez	Sergio Llull	Nikola Mirotic	Juan Carlos Navarro
Felipe Reyes	Pau Ribas	Sergio Rodriguez	Ricky Rubio

Marc Gasol remains in the squad although he is a big doubt as he continues his recovery from a broken foot. Other veterans that missed last year's EuroBasket that are still in the squad are Jose Calderon, Juan Carlos Navarro and Ricky Rubio.

Sergio Rodriguez, who has taken a leave of absence from the national team to negotiate the terms of his move to the Philadelphia 76ers from Real Madrid, is to rejoin the national team on Wednesday.

Scariolo was encouraged by what he saw during Spain's workouts in Madrid. They were there for 11 days.

"I am very pleased with the attitude and commitment of the players in what has been by far the most rugged camp of all that I have experienced," Scariolo said.

"Thanks to the contribution of the players that we have called, we have been resolving some things little by little and we hope that over the next few days, everything will go smoothly so that in the second half of the month, we can accelerate and get a balance with the physical work and tactical systems that players have been used to for so many years."

In addition to the friendly against Angola, a country that lost both of its games at last week's FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Serbia, Spain have friendlies coming up against Lithuania in Malaga on 21 July, Venezuela in Madrid 23 July and in Valladolid two days later. On 28 July, Spain will face a rival that has yet to be determined in Zaragoza.

All four players to have been cut are disappointed but each has stressed the positives of training with the squad. Aguilar, who was also in the team that finished third at EuroBasket 2013, hopes to feature in the coming years.

"I can say that I feel privileged to have been able to be on the initial list of players for the preparation of the Olympic Games in Rio," he said.

"To stand with this magnificent group is a source of pride, not only because we are talking about an excellent group of athletes but also because they are a real family... They have been very intense days with really good working sessions in which I have tried to give as much as I can while soaking everything up everything you can with this team. I leave grateful and with the desire to join the team in the years to come."

FIBA