EuroLeague champions and Real Madrid stars Sergio Llull and Rudy Fernandez will be part of the national team of Spain in the 2023 Basketball World Cup.
Jorge Garbajosa, president of the Spanish Basketball Federation, confirmed the availability of both players for summer’s major FIBA tournament.
🗣️ "Rudy y Llull ya me han dicho: nos vemos este verano"
🏀 Jorge Garbajosa alaba el compromiso de ambos jugadoreshttps://t.co/sPuOw1DhtF— AS Baloncesto (@AS_baloncesto) May 24, 2023
“I have spoken with Alberto Herreros, with Rudy [Fernandez], Chacho [Sergio Rodriguez], Sergio Llull. I am very happy for them,” Jorge Garbajosa said, via Juan Jimenez of AS. “I see many similarities with our victory in the EuroBasket. Two weeks before, they seemed out [of the EuroLeague] after trailing 0-2 [against Partizan in the EuroLeague playoffs].”
“The most incredible thing is that when I spoke to them, Llull and Rudy were the first to tell me: see you this summer. The commitment they have is exceptional,” Garbajosa added.
Sergio Llull, 35, has appeared in 11 major FIBA tournaments, while Fernandez, 38, has played 15 major FIBA tournaments with Spain. On Sunday, Llull hit the game winner and Real Madrid stunned Olympiacos in the EuroLeague Championship Game (78-79) and won its first title since 2018.
Following the draw that took place in Manila last month, Spain, the 2022 EuroBasket champions, will take on Iran, Cote D’Ivoire, and Brazil in the group stage of the tournament in late summer (August 25-September 10).
