Garbajosa on the new FIBA windows: We will name also EuroLeague players to Spain's National Team
The FEB president spoke about Spain's National Team
FEB president Jorge Garbajosa spoke with Europapress a few days after Eurobasket where Spain won the bronze medal.
The hot topic of the interview was the new FIBA Calendar and the two windows in the middle of the season for the National Teams that will play the World Cup qualifiers.
NBA players won’t participate in those games while EuroLeague teams won’t have stops in its calendar leaving the players the final words whether to join the National Team and leave their teams or not.
“We will try to name the best players available to Spain’s National Team. And we will name the EuroLeague players too. As usual, we’ll try to assemble the best roster possible. EuroLeague privately and publicly stated that they won’t stop their competition and that players will be free to decide where they want to play. We are obliged to defend our interests and the interests of the Spanish basketball” Garbajosa said. “We hope to have the full support of Superior Council of Sports. We hope that CSD will help players to have the freedom to join their National Teams. We are never going to hurt players. But the law of sports protect us and I am sure and convinced that CSD will defend the participation of the players that are called for the Spanish National Team because we are in a very uncomfortable situation” the former NBA forward said. “The work of the clubs and regional federation is important. But the true guide of Spanish basketball is the national team and the TV audience shows that”.
“We have to qualify for the next FIBA basketball World Cup (in 2019) because the competition will qualify for Tokyo 2020. If we don’t get a ticket for the World Cup, Spanish basketball will have a serious problem” Garbajosa continued.
“I have not spoke with other national federations on this issue but I think they will call their best players and some of them are also playing in Spanish league. The new FIBA calendar was decided before the expansion of the EuroLeague’s calendar. Who has invaded who? By law, when a players is named to his national team he has the obligation to go. We have the obligation to name them for our fans and sponsors”.
“FIBA, with successes and mistakes, defends the general interest of basketball worldwide. And it is very difficult to assume that a small number of clubs, which are very important, impose their will on the rest of Spanish, European and worldwide basketball. It is not possible that above FIBA they try to put some teams that have private and economic interests. The global interest cannot be below the interest of a few. It is called common sense”.
“I would be happy if EuroLeague and FIBA reach an agreement. But I see it difficult to find a solution by November (when there will be the fist window). I hope I am wrong but the solution can be found through dialogue and if there won’t be any solution we will defend Spain’s National Team.”
The hot topic of the interview was the new FIBA Calendar and the two windows in the middle of the season for the National Teams that will play the World Cup qualifiers.
NBA players won’t participate in those games while EuroLeague teams won’t have stops in its calendar leaving the players the final words whether to join the National Team and leave their teams or not.
“We will try to name the best players available to Spain’s National Team. And we will name the EuroLeague players too. As usual, we’ll try to assemble the best roster possible. EuroLeague privately and publicly stated that they won’t stop their competition and that players will be free to decide where they want to play. We are obliged to defend our interests and the interests of the Spanish basketball” Garbajosa said. “We hope to have the full support of Superior Council of Sports. We hope that CSD will help players to have the freedom to join their National Teams. We are never going to hurt players. But the law of sports protect us and I am sure and convinced that CSD will defend the participation of the players that are called for the Spanish National Team because we are in a very uncomfortable situation” the former NBA forward said. “The work of the clubs and regional federation is important. But the true guide of Spanish basketball is the national team and the TV audience shows that”.
“We have to qualify for the next FIBA basketball World Cup (in 2019) because the competition will qualify for Tokyo 2020. If we don’t get a ticket for the World Cup, Spanish basketball will have a serious problem” Garbajosa continued.
“I have not spoke with other national federations on this issue but I think they will call their best players and some of them are also playing in Spanish league. The new FIBA calendar was decided before the expansion of the EuroLeague’s calendar. Who has invaded who? By law, when a players is named to his national team he has the obligation to go. We have the obligation to name them for our fans and sponsors”.
“FIBA, with successes and mistakes, defends the general interest of basketball worldwide. And it is very difficult to assume that a small number of clubs, which are very important, impose their will on the rest of Spanish, European and worldwide basketball. It is not possible that above FIBA they try to put some teams that have private and economic interests. The global interest cannot be below the interest of a few. It is called common sense”.
“I would be happy if EuroLeague and FIBA reach an agreement. But I see it difficult to find a solution by November (when there will be the fist window). I hope I am wrong but the solution can be found through dialogue and if there won’t be any solution we will defend Spain’s National Team.”
E. Carchia
@Sportando
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