EUROBASKET 2011

Pau Gasol comes into the tournament in top form

Spain v Poland - Wednesday at 15:15

Spain are in buoyant mood as they launch their EuroBasket title defence in Panevezys against Poland on Wednesday.

Pau Gasol is back after skipping last year's World Championship and has been in great form during in the warm-up games.

He has been partnered in the low post with his brother, Marc Gasol.

Point guard Jose Manuel Calderon is in the team for the first time since 2008 and Spain are bolstered by recently naturalized Serge Ibaka, the fierce Oklahoma City shot-blocker.

Rudy Fernandez (arm) and Ricky Rubio (ankle) have overcome injuries and are in the squad.

Spain, coached by Sergio Scariolo, won seven of their eight friendlies with Pau Gasol leading them in scoring.

"I usually take longer to be in top form but the important thing for me is to be at the top of my game during the tournament and in the Final Round," Gasol said.

Spain will face a Poland side that has nine new players that didn't appear in EuroBasket 2009.

Centers Marcin Gortat and Maciej Lampe, and forward Michal Ignerski are absent this year.
Former Slovenia boss Ales Pipan is now the coach.

Turkey v Portugal - Wednesday at 17:45

Turkey have been out of sync this summer but forward Ersan Ilyasova says the team is ready for Portugal in the second Group A game of the day.

"We will be focused and determined from the start," Ilyasova said. "It will be important for us to start the tournament with two wins."

Turkey, coached by Orhun Ene, are without center Semih Erden after he failed to recover from a shoulder injury but an outstanding talent, big man Enes Kanter, is making his EuroBasket debut.

Portugal reached Lithuania via the Additional Qualifying Round.

Forward Carlos Andrade, who missed EuroBasket 2007, said: "This is a unique experience. I always dreamed of being in a situation like this one."

Now coached by Mario Palma, Portugal have Antonio Tavares as he recovered from a knock picked up in an AQR game against Finland.

Lithuania v Great Britain - Wednesday at 21:00

Hosts Lithuania are without Darjus Lavrinovic, Linas Kleiza and Jonas Maciulis but expectations are soaring for fans ahead of their opener against Great Britain.

Bronze-medal winners at the 2010 World Championship, Lithuania didn't have Rimantas Kaukenas, Darius Songaila, Sarunas Jasikevicius, Ksistof Lavrinovic and Marijonas Petravicius.

All five have returned to the side.

Also included is Jonas Valanciunas, 19, who led Lithuania to U19 World Championship gold this summer.