MADRID (Eurobasket 2009) - Spain have announced that Pau Gasol will help the national team try to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey when they play at the EuroBasket in September.

A statement on the Spanish Basketball Federation website said early Friday afternoon: “Pau Gasol will announce in a few minutes (Friday afternoon) in Alicante his decision to take part with Spain in the EuroBasket in September in Poland.

"Pau aspires to wrap up another great international success in an extraordinary year, having conquered the ring of champion of the NBA."

Gasol, the MVP of the 2006 FIBA World Championship, was named in Spain’s 12-man EuroBasket team on Monday by coach Sergio Scariolo but wasn’t confirmed as a player for Poland by FEB president Jose Luis Saez, who said “minor details” needed to be worked out.

On Thursday, Gasol said he still did not know if he would play and that he needed to discuss the situation with the Los Angeles Lakers, the team he won his first NBA title with last month.

He would then, he said, talk to the FEB.

Scariolo said in Friday’s statement on the Spanish Basketball Federation website: "Pau will be at the EuroBasket of Poland and this is the most important thing. It's a satisfaction to know Pau's desire to compete despite the tiredness and physical problems that one can gather after a hard season as he has had in the NBA.

"During the month of July, we will establish contact with the professionals that take care of Pau’s health. The Lakers and our team will design the regimen and the program for Pau and then let him join the national team with us thinking of the best for the player."

FIBA