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Photo of Chus Mateo, Spain’s national basketball team head coach, and Ignacio Asensi, Endesa’s Head of Sponsorships, at the announcement of the players called up for the Qatar 2027 World Cup qualifiers.
Chus Mateo incorporates EuroLeague players (Willy, Brizuela, Parra, and Pradilla) and players based in the US (Mario and Hugo) into a squad list announced at Endesa’s Madrid headquarters, while maintaining the successful core group from the November and February windows. #LaFamilia will play against Denmark and Georgia to close out the first phase of qualification for the 2027 World Cup.
Chus Mateo: “We need our fans because the match at the Caja Mágica is important for World Cup qualification”.
Chus Mateo has announced the squad list at Endesa’s Madrid headquarters for the final two matches of the first qualification phase for the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in Qatar. The National Head Coach has called up a total of 14 players to prepare for the matches against Denmark (2 July in Madrid) and Georgia (5 July in Tbilisi). For next Thursday’s match at the Caja Mágica against the Danish national team, the Spanish Basketball Federation has launched a “2+1” ticket offer available for the next 24 hours.
The squad was made public this Thursday, 25 June, alongside the FEB’s sponsor partner. During the presentation event, Chus Mateo was assisted by a group of Endesa employees and their families, who were tasked with helping the National Head Coach reveal the squad list. Meanwhile, Ignacio Asensi, Endesa’s Sponsorship Manager, wished the national team the best of luck and added: “We are especially excited to host this event, and to have the children of our employees, the players from the Gigantes Campus, and one of the youth teams from Baloncesto Getafe here with us; they are all the future of basketball and dream of one day being on a national team list like the one we are presenting today.”
The 14 players called up by Chus Mateo are as follows:
Izan Almansa (Real Madrid), 8 international caps
Francis Alonso (Río Breogán), 9 international caps
Ferrán Bassas (Kids&Us Manresa), 13 international caps
Darío Brizuela (Barça), 71 international caps
Álvaro Cárdenas (Peristeri BC), 5 international caps
Alberto Díaz (Unicaja Málaga), 53 international caps
Hugo González (Boston Celtics), 2 international caps
Willy Hernangómez (Barça), 115 international caps
Pierre Oriola (Kids&Us Manresa), 42 international caps
Joel Parra (Barça), 54 international caps
Oriol Paulí (Hiopos Lleida), 17 international caps
Jaime Pradilla (Valencia Basket), 49 international caps
Mario Saint-Supéry (Gonzaga Bulldogs), 13 international caps
Santi Yusta (Casademont Zaragoza), 29 international caps
The team will begin their training camp on Monday 29 June in Madrid to prepare for the match #LaFamilia will play against Denmark at Madrid’s Caja Mágica (Thursday 2 July at 19:00). The following day, the national team will travel to Georgia to prepare for the final Window match, which will be played in Tbilisi against the Georgian national team (Sunday 5 July at 17:30). Both matches can be followed live on Teledeporte and Movistar Plus Deportes.
As National Head Coach, Chus Mateo will be supported by a technical staff composed of the following members.
Assistant Coaches: Paco Redondo, Guillermo Frutos, Paco Aurioles and Arturo Ruiz
Doctor: Juanfry Abellán
Physiotherapists: Samuel Castillo, José Antonio Fernández and Tomás Richartz
Strength and Conditioning Coaches: Javi H. Bello and María Reina
Performance Coach: Fausto Jiménez
Delegates: Javier Cabrerizo and David Ortega
Team Manager: Carlos Jiménez
Willy Hernangómez will captain the third squad selected by Chus Mateo. The Barça player makes his debut in a squad under Chus Mateo, who on this occasion has been able to call up players competing in the EuroLeague or playing in the US. In addition to Willy, other key players for the national team, such as Darío Brizuela, Joel Parra, Jaime Pradilla, Mario Saint-Supéry, and Hugo González, join the group that has already starred in the first two Windows, winning all four matches played. This core group, formed by Alberto Díaz, Pierre Oriola, Santi Yusta, Oriol Paulí, Ferrán Bassas, Francis Alonso, Izan Almansa, and Álvaro Cárdenas, will remain key in the objective of achieving qualification for the World Cup.
Chus Mateo: “We have to combine our individual efforts to secure the two victories”
The head coach thanked the guests for their presence and explained that “it is a special moment. We are giving a face to the players who will represent our national basketball in a FIBA Window that is very important for qualification for the next World Cup.” And he announced how the squad would be revealed: “It won't be me, but children from all over Spain who will announce the players' names. And it is they, with their innocence, who will help us announce the team and transmit the values of basketball.”
“I believe we will be able to combine all those individual efforts to secure the two victories. First in the match in Madrid, which will be an attractive game, and the result will be important for the Second Phase,” assured Chus Mateo, adding: “I have a wide range of players, but with circumstances that condition the call-ups. I am going to start working with players from Barcelona and Valencia Basket, who I haven't been able to count on in previous windows, or Hugo González, whom I know personally.”
About Endesa
Endesa is the leading electricity company in Spain and the second largest in Portugal. It is also the second largest gas operator in the Spanish market. Endesa operates an integrated business model spanning electricity generation, distribution, and supply. Furthermore, the company offers value-added services focused on the electrification of energy use for households, businesses, and public administrations. Endesa is committed to the United Nations’ SDGs and corporate social responsibility. In the latter area, it also operates through the Endesa Foundation. Our team comprises around 9,000 employees. Endesa is part of Enel.