PUR - Arroyo to sit out games

SAN JUAN (Pan-American Games) - Puerto Rican Basketball Federation president Hetin Reyes has revealed NBA star Carlos Arroyo will not play in the Pan-American Games.

Orlando Magic point guard Arroyo and Unicaja Malaga center Daniel Santiago have been left out of Puerto Rico's preliminary squad for the tournament that gets under way in Rio de Janeiro on July 25.

"We believe the best for them (Arroyo and Santiago) is to have a break," said Reyes.

"We know they are fed up with trips, games, and we want to have them well to play the Caribe Basket tournament."

Antonio 'Puruco' Latimer, Christian Dalmau, David Huertas and Guillermo Diaz miss out on a place in coach Manolo Cintron's squad, while Miguel Ali Berdiel, Ansel Guzman, Angel Rosa Clemente and Ricky Sanchez are the new faces.

Angel Daniel Vassallo and U17 star Angel 'Piwi' Garcia are other surprise inclusions.

Puerto Rico squad: Rick Apodaca, Larry Ayuso, Jose Juan Barea, Filiberto Rivera, Peter John Ramos, Angelo Reyes, Manuel Narvaez, Carmelo Lee, Angel Figueroa, Ivan Lopez, Hector Valenzuela, Joel Jones Camacho, Wilfredo Pagan, Angel Rosa Clemente, Ricky Sanchez, Ansel Guzman, Miguel Ali Berdiel, Alejandro Carmona, Gabriel Colon, Angel Daniel Vassallo, Angel Garcia.

By Matias Greco
PA Sport