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27 September, 2014
05 October
Anna Cruz (ESP)
22/09/2014
News
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Spain reveal final roster for Ankara

LOGRONO (FIBA World Championship for Women) - Spain head coach Lucas Mondelo has opted not to take Cindy Lima or Astou Ndour to the FIBA World Championship for Women which gets underway next weekend in Turkey.

The play-caller admitted it had been difficult to leave the frontcourt duo behind and with regards to Ndour that he was forced to do so because of only having the one naturalised spot available.

Mondelo is banking on Laura Nicholls, Laura Gil, Lucila Pascua and Sancho Lyttle to stand up and be counted under the hoop.

"Cindy Lima is a player who has dressed 113 times for the national team and is living history for Spanish basketball," admitted the coach.

"Additionally, her to devotion and dedication has been high as ever.

"We face a demanding and physical World Championship with Sancho Lyttle, who has rested after a long season and she will now be incorporated back into the team in the best condition.

"Astou is perfectly integrated in the team and doing her job. She's a player that I love and has been helping us a lot.

"Unfortunately you can't overcome the law, so she has been with us as a guest and will leave the group."

It means Spain will only be fielding seven players from the team that won EuroBasket Women in France last year after Mondelo handed senior tournament debuts to both Leticia Romero and Leonor Rodriguez.

There are reprieves for Anna Cruz who recently stepped out in the WNBA and also for veteran center Pascua. Both were overlooked last year by Mondelo but have impressed in preparation.

There has also been a remarkable renaissance for playmaker Nuria Martinez who comes in from the cold.

She has been handed a hook in the national team locker room for the first time in four years and it is something that will be made even more special by the fact she plays her club basketball in Turkey, having recently penned a deal with Galatasaray for the 2014-15 campaign.

Spain will open their campaign in Ankara against Brazil, the Czech Republic and Japan.

Spain squad for FIBA World Championship for Women: Silvia Dominguez, Laia Palau, Marta Xargay, Alba Torrens, Laura Gill, Laura Nicholls, Leonor Rodriguez, Nuria Martinez, Leticia Romero, Anna Cruz, Lucila Pascua, Sancho Lyttle.

FIBA