MADRID (EuroBasket Women/FIBA World Championship for Women) - An ankle injury suffered in the Liga Femenina play-off finals has cost Anna Cruz her spot in Spain’s EuroBasket Women squad.
Cruz, who had played for the national team the previous four summers, got hurt while playing for Rivas Ecopolis in the Liga Femenina Finals against Perfumerias Avenida in late April.
Though named in the preliminary squad, coach Lucas Mondelo didn't feel she had recovered her form and thus has ruled her out of this summer's tournament in France, where Spain will take on Italy, Russia and Sweden in the first round.
"This is always a difficult decision and even a painful one because all of the players that are with us here deserve to play at the EuroBasket," Mondelo said to the website of the Spanish Basketball Federation.
"Unfortunately, only 14 can go to the tournament and we had to take a decision.
"Anna Cruz has proved that with her quality, attitude and experience, she could be one of them but at this level, the small details are the ones that decide and we go to France with a team that is playing at a very high rhythm and fast pace, and Anna Cruz has not been able to reach that level having gotten injured in the last game of the Liga Femenina with Rivas."
Cruz was a member of the Spanish side that captured bronze at the EuroBasket Women 2009 and one year later reached the podium of the FIBA World Championship for Women in the Czech Republic.
She also played at the EuroBasket Women 2011 in Poland and last year in the successful Qualification Round campaign for this month’s EuroBasket.
"I want to thank Anna," Mondelo said.
"She is a great player and has had an excellent season.
"She gave everything to recover from her injury.
"Her level is inferior to that of her team-mates but she is at a good level to start a pre-season.
"I hope she will be able to join us on another occasions injuries permitting."
Spain, who are unbeaten in preparation, will join again on 4 June 4 in Coslada, Madrid, to complete a series of training sessions before travelling to France to play a triangular tournament in Evry.
Spain will have a glitzy debut at the EuroBasket on 15 June against Russia.
They enter the tournament No. 6 in the FIBA Ranking Women.
