The executive director of the "USA Basketball ', Jerry Colangelo, said in New York that Spain will be a" formidable opponent "in the World Basketball Championship in Turkey despite not having the presence of Pau Gasol. During the presentation of the World Basketball Festival to be held in New York from 10 to 15 August, Colangelo was convinced that the absence of Gasol will not detract from the Spanish team strength, current world champion, and highlighted the work of the players young people who were part of the selection. Gasol, who is currently contesting the NBA Finals with the Los Angeles Lakers, announced in early June would not attend the World Cup to be held from August 28 to September 12 because he considered that his body needed "rest" after wear in recent years. United States last faced the Spanish team during the final of the Olympic Games in Beijing, where, amid protests by the performance of the referees, is over taking the gold medal. After this last meeting and before the World Cup, both teams will see their faces in a friendly match to be played on August 22 in the Magic Box in Madrid. On the controversy surrounding the referee following the final in Beijing, Colangelo was cautious and said that doubts about arbitration are "normal" in basketball because the game is so fast "that lost many things." Despite this, said that "referees did a great job" and was personally "very satisfied." Regarding the decision of some European players in the NBA like Pau Gasol and Tony Parker did not participate in the World Colangelo pressure from discarded equipment the U.S. league and said there was a great collaboration between the 'USA Basketball', FIBA and the NBA. To Colangelo's situation Gasol and Parker is special because "they are very valuable players for their teams and need to care for himself themselves and their bodies "and avoid injury. Colangelo would not venture team who will make things difficult for the United States in the World Cup and opted to show the utmost respect for all opponents. The director of the 'USA Basketball 'said one of his priorities when he took over the institution after the World Cup in 2006 was that the U.S. team learned to respect international selections because they "felt ashamed of how people looked at us." "Anyone can win "Colangelo said," happened to us and we beat Greece in 2006. " World Basketball Festival, organized by 'USA Basketball' and Nike, will be held in New York with the intention to look into the culture of basketball in the city of skyscrapers and will involve selections from France, Puerto Rico and China.
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