MARTA FERNANDEZ SAD

Coach Evaristo Perez made a family sad this week when he decided not to include EuroLeague Women All Star and 2004 Olympian Marta Fernandez in his preliminary squad for the Olympic Qualifying Tournament.

Perez, who guided Spain to within a whisker of EuroBasket Women glory last year in Chieti, Italy, elected to bring back eight members of that group while also including a handful of youngsters like 2007 U20 European Championship MVP Silvia Dominguez.

Fernandez, a 26-year-old shooting guard with Wisla Can-Pack Krakow and a starter with the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, missed last summer with an ankle injury she picked up while playing in the United States but had expected to return to the set-up.

"What they have told me is what the coach has said in public, that there's a puzzle and I don't fit into it," a disappointed Fernandez said.

"I have no problems with anyone. Last year, it was a mutual decision that I didn't go to the national team because of the injury."

Fernandez came off the bench and helped the national team come back from a huge deficit against Poland in the bronze medal game of EuroBasket 2003 to win and qualify for the Athens Game in 2004.

The competition for places in the Spanish men's and women's teams is as fierce as it gets, though.

Her exclusion has certainly spoiled the party atmosphere in the Fernandez family.

Rudy Fernandez of DKV Joventut has been elected ACB Player of the Year and will carry his excellent form into the Beijing Games with the men's team.

Both Rudy and Marta Fernandez played at the Athens Games and he is stunned by Perez's decision.

"That one of the best players in Spain is not included in the list surprises me and many people," he told Spanish media.

Tamara Abalde, meanwhile, one of the youngsters called up by Perez for the 14-strong preliminary squad, is elated that she is being given a chance to go the Olympics.

"This call brings me great happiness," said Abalde, who just finished her freshman year at Lamar University in Texas.

"I am delighted because I didn't expect to be included. I thought it would be impossible that they would call me for the senior team.

"I'm going to work as hard as possible and I hope I can remain because it would be beautiful."