By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Joining several federations in announcing call-ups for the first international window dedicated to the FIBA World Cup 2027 Qualifiers, the Spanish Basketball Federation named 14 players selected by the new head coach, Chus Mateo, on Tuesday.
The new La Familia head coach was confirmed by FEB in September, with the 56-year-old native of Madrid taking over from Sergio Scariolo for the next four years. Beyond the initial bid to reach the World Cup, Mateo’s sights are on EuroBasket 2029, which features Spain as the main host.
In Group A of the European World Cup Qualifiers, Spain starts in Farum against Denmark on November 27, and hosts Georgia in San Cristobal de La Laguna’s Santiago Martin Arena on November 30. The next FIBA window features a home-and-away series opposite Ukraine.
Spain’s roster
- Izan Almansa (Real Madrid)
- Francis Alonso (Rio Breogan)
- Pep Busquets (Girona)
- Alvaro Cardenas (Peristeri Betsson)
- Lluis Costa (Coviran Granada)
- Alberto Diaz (Unicaja)
- Dani Diez (Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos)
- Jaime Fernandez (La Laguna Tenerife)
- Fran Guerra (La Laguna Tenerife)
- Great Osobor (Science City Jena)
- Oriol Pauli (Hiopos Lleida)
- Alex Reyes (BAXI Manresa)
- Miquel Salvo (Dreamland Gran Canaria)
- Santi Yusta (Casademont Zaragoza)
In addition, Joventut Badalona’s Miguel Allen and Casademont Zaragoza’s Miguel Gonzalez were invited to join team practices.
Tamir Blatt returns
Earlier, the Israeli Basketball Association revealed a list of 14 players for the first showings in the World Cup Qualifiers, including Tamir Blatt returning after three years and T.J. Leaf set to debut with the senior national team. Ariel Beit-Halahmy’s side is in Group E, alongside Croatia, Cyprus, and Germany.
- Bar Timor (Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv)
- Roi Huber (Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem)
- Tamir Blatt (Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv)
- Khadeen Carrington (Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem)
- Noam Yaacov (Filou Oostende)
- Yair Kravitz (Hapoel Netanel Holon)
- Yovel Zoosman (Hapoel Midtown Jerusalem)
- Netanel Artzi (Hapoel Netanel Holon)
- Guy Palatin (Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv)
- Gur Lavy (Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv)
- Itay Segev (Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv)
- T.J. Leaf (Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv)
- Roman Sorkin (Maccabi Rapyd Tel Aviv)
- Idan Zalmanson (Hapoel Netanel Holon)
The top three seeds from each group advance, carrying respective W-L tallies to take on three more countries in a new six-game schedule. The top three of the new groups will punch in a ticket to Qatar.