PAN - Panama confirm Pinnock out of squad for Japan 2006

PANAMA CITY (FIBA World Championship) - Panama coach Guillermo Vecchio has finalised his 12-man squad for the FIBA World Championship and as expected, former George Washington University star Danilo Pinnock misses out.

It has emerged that Pinnock excluded himself after losing his passport.

Pinnock is a Texan, born to Panamanian parents. He helped the Panamanians to a fifth place finish at the FIBA Americas Championship last year which qualified the team for Japan.
Taken in the NBA draft this summer, the Los Angeles Lakers own his rights but he has yet to sign.

Panama should be stronger in Japan than they were in the Dominican Republic last year, however, with their foreign-based forces - Kevin Daley, Ruben Garces, Ed Cotta and Ruben Douglas - all involved.

Jamal Levy, formerly of Wake Forest University, is in the group along with former Louisiana State University standout and European pro Jaime Lloreda.

Panama will play Puerto Rico in friendlies on Wednesday and Thursday, before heading off to Japan.

Nolan Richardson, the former Arkansas Razorbacks coach, led the team to their qualification for Japan but did not sign an extension.

With Argentinian Vecchio at the helm, Panama have shown good form, winning the Centrobasket tournament at home and the silver medal in the Centro-American and the Caribbean Games in Colombia.

At the FIBA World Championship, Panama are in Group B with New Zealand, Germany, Spain, Japan and Angola, whom they face first on August 19.

Panama squad: Jair Peralta, Ruben Garces, Ed Cotta, Ruben Douglas, Michael Hicks, Jamal Levy, Dionisio Gomez, Kevin Daley, Eric Cardenas, Jaime Lloreda, Antonio Garcia, Maximiliano Gomez.

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