10 European runners-up among 15 called up by Mendes to prepare for Olympics
10 European runners-up among 15 called up by Mendes to prepare for Olympics
Miguel Mendes has presented the list of players with whom he will begin preparations for the Summer Olympic competition, which begins next Friday, June 14. The list includes 10 contenders for the European runner-up spot in 2023, who will be joined in the opening weeks of training camp by two first-time call-ups, Ava Pham and Iyana Martin.
Under the leadership of Captain Silvia Dominguez, bases Maite Cazorla, Mariona Ortiz and Leticia Romero were called up; escorts Queralt Casas and Andrea Vilaro; forwards Maria Conde, Laura Quevedo, Leonor Rodriguez and Alba Torrens; power forwards Maria Araujo and Paula Guinzo; and the centers Laura Gil, Nerea Hermosa and Lola Pendande. In the first days of concentration, point guard Iyana Martin and center Ava Pham will join this list.
This Friday, the national coach announced the list of participants for the preparatory tour for Paris 2024 at Espacio Iberia, the airline’s pop-up store (official sponsor of the Spanish Basketball Federation), where he was accompanied by FEB President Elisa Aguilar and which also served to renew the coach for the next Olympic cycle 2024– 2028
Miguel Mendes emphasized: “We will prepare a team capable of competing at the level of the Games.”
Coach Miguel Mendes explains: “We have called up 15 players who will start training on June 15 in Vigo and will be joined by a nationalized player two weeks before the trip to Paris. In the first part of the concentration there will also be two young players who we want to continue to develop. We will make a decision on who will be nationalized in the coming weeks.”
Regarding the Olympic Games, the national coach noted that “it will be a very difficult competition, we will prepare a team capable of competing at the level of the Games. We will try to create the best team, consisting of both veterans and young players. We will try to win every game and show our best level.”
Regarding his extension: “Being a coach is a gift, I am fortunate to spend my days competing and coaching these players. “I hope I can lead a team like ours.”
Elisa Aguilar: “There is no one better than Miguel on the bench in Spain.”
The FEB President stated that “there is no one better than Miguel Mendes to fill the Spanish bench. For professional competence, for knowledge of basketball, for sports experience and for human sensitivity. I am confident that we are in good hands with him, but I know, above all, that our players think so too.” Elisa Aguilar also wanted to convey this message to the team before the Olympic Games: “I know that this team will work with dedication and rigor, but I want to ask you to also enjoy the journey, to go with the joy that characterizes this group to Lille, and that once there, you jump onto the court, knowing that you have nothing to prove, that you have already earned everyone’s respect and gratitude. You will have the support of all of us.”
The national team will meet next Friday, June 14, and will play 6 friendly matches in Vigo, Charleroi (Brussels) and Segovia. In the Galician city they will play Triangle with Turkey (Friday, June 21, at 21:00) and with China (Sunday, June 23, at 12:00). In a few weeks they will travel to Charleroi to face Belgium, the reigning European champions, on Friday 12th July at 8.30pm and Canada on Saturday 13th at the same time. The final two friendlies of the Tour will be played in Segovia on Monday 22 July against Australia (8pm) and Wednesday 24 against Canada simultaneously. All matches can be followed live on Teledeporte and tickets can be purchased on feb.es.
PLAYERS |
POSITION |
CLUB |
INTERNATIONAL TERMS |
SILVIA DOMINGUEZ |
BASE |
Avenida Perfumery |
214 |
MAYTE-CAZORLA |
BASE |
USK Prague |
41 |
MARION ORTIZ |
BASE |
Casademont Zaragoza. |
5 |
LETICIA ROMERO |
BASE |
Valencia Basket |
79 |
ANDREA VILARO |
ATTACKING DEFENDER |
Avenida Perfumery |
twenty one |
HOUSES OF QUERALT |
ATTACKING DEFENDER |
Valencia Basket |
100 |
LEONOR RODRIGUEZ |
CRUZINS |
Avenida Perfumery |
120 |
ALBA TORRENCE |
CRUZINS |
Valencia Basket |
202 |
MARIA CONDE |
CRUZINS |
USK Prague |
68 |
LAURA QUEVEDO |
CRUZINS |
LDLC ASVEL |
51 |
MARIA PEREZ ARAUJO |
VERTEX. |
Chukurova Basketball |
17 |
PAULA GINZO |
VERTEX. |
Jairis Global Hozone |
37 |
LAURA GIL |
ROTATE |
Avenida Perfumery |
153 |
LOLA PENDANDE |
ROTATE |
IDK Euskotren |
16 |
BEAUTIFUL NEREAS |
ROTATE |
Casademont Zaragoza |
4 |
IYANA MARTIN |
BASE |
P.XXI/P. AVENUE |
0 |
AVA FAM |
ROTATE |
VALENCIA B. |
0 |
Together with José Ignacio Hernandez (FEB sporting director) and Laia Palau (team manager), coach Miguel Mendez will lead the following coaching staff:
· Nacho Martinez (assistant coach)
· Madeleine Urieta (assistant coach)
· Isaac Fernandez (assistant coach)
· Laura Ots (doctor)
Jordi Aragones (physical trainer)
· Oscar Delgado (physiotherapist)
· Ana Lopez (physiotherapist)
· Susana Ferreras (delegate)