Spanish international Rudy Fernandez will do everything in his power to play in next year's EuroCup All-Star Game.

The DKV Joventut guard, a key player in his club's run to the EuroCup Final Four, missed Tuesday's showpiece event in Cyprus due to a thigh injury sustained at the weekend.

It was an amazing occasion with a packed house of 6,000 spectators watching the EuroCup's brightest stars razzle and dazzle. Europe could have used Fernandez, too, as they lost 97-89.

"I was really looking forward to playing in that game," a disconsolate Fernandez said to PA Sport. "It's a pity because it would have been a good learning experience for me as I would have played with great players.

"I hope that this call will not be the last one and

		“	I hope that this call will not be the last one and that I will be able to play in this prestigious game in the future.	„
		Rudy Fernandez

that I will be able to play in this prestigious game in the future."

Fernandez was all the more disappointed considering he was the only Spaniard selected for the game. The shooting guard will, however, be looking to steal the limelight when his team travels to Ukraine on April 7 to take on BC Kyiv in the EuroCup semi-final. The game is being played three days after his 21st birthday.

"It's going to be a very hard game considering we play on the road against a very solid side," he said. "We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground knowing that we have a chance to go all the way. This a highly competitive tournament and we want to win it."

Fernandez believes the other semi-final will be action-packed as BC Khimki takes on last year's FIBA Europe League champions Dynamo St Petersburg.

"It's going to be an exciting battle to watch between two Russian giants," he said. "They both play good basketball and have great players so it's going to be an interesting contest."

Joventut appear to have discovered their best play at the right time.

They are riding a four-game winning streak in the ACB, leaving them alone in fourth place behind Tau Ceramica, Unicaja Malaga and Winterthur Barcelona.

"I think the key of our success so far has been the great atmosphere in the team,"  Fernandez said. "Our results haven't been down to one or two players' performances but due to the work of the whole team and I think that's important. We have to continue to play like this."

		Fernandez hopes to have an increased role with the national team under new coach Pepu Hernandez

Fernandez will have an added motivation to do well this season as he will try to earn a place in Pepu Hernandez's squad for the FIBA World Championship later this year.

The Palma-born player struggled to make an impact at last summer's
EuroBasket and is determined to make amends in  the tournament which will be held in Japan. He is taking nothing for granted and knows he must earn his place in the squad.

"This year has been my best year in the ACB but we will see," he said. "I hope I have the opportunity to go to the World Championship. It would be another challenge and a great experience in my career and I would be glad to contribute to Spain competing for the medals. I didn't have a great EuroBasket as during the preparation stages I sustained a knee injury and that hindered me.

"I also didn't have the full confidence of the coach (Mario Pesquera) and to have to take (Barcelona guard) Juan Carlos Navarro's place is never easy."

Hernandez replaced Pesquera in December so Fernandez and most players' slate is wiped clean.

As for the NBA, Fernandez is not bothered. He had submitted his name as an early entry candidate last year but withdrew.

When asked if he would enter the NBA Draft this summer, he said: "I don't discard anything but my priority right now is to help Joventut."