2023-10-19 23:32:15
Elisa Aguilar: “It is impossible to bring together so much talent, it cannot be more impressive”
Pau Gasol: “The gratitude I have for basketball is eternal”
MADRID, 19 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Pau Gasol, Laia Palau, ‘Pepu’ Hernández, Dirk Nowitzki and the Liga ACB were some of the notable protagonists this Thursday at the ceremony of the third promotion of the Spanish Basketball Hall of Fame, held at the Estadio de la Cartuja in Seville and framed this year in the events celebrating the Centennial of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB).
“Seen from the perspective of the stage, it could not be more impressive. It is impossible to bring together as much talent, commitment and history of success as we have gathered here today,” said the new president of the FEB, Elisa Aguilar, who thanked the Board for her contribution. of Andalusia and the representatives of the sponsoring and collaborating institutions of the Hall of Fame.
The president of FIBA Europe, Jorge Garbajosa, was excited to be able to closely follow the history of Spanish basketball. “I am not here as president of FIBA Europe but as a friend, as a fan of the FEB and the Hall of Fame. It is a pleasure to be here,” he stated before the institutional speeches.
The protagonists were the basketball stars of recent years, on or off the court. “I want to thank those of you who have thought of me to be here, in this great house of Spanish basketball. And I want to thank basketball very much. I am someone who has had the opportunity to coach great players, in the ACB, the national team, and also in training. Spanish basketball and basketball in general is an unbeatable habitat for many things in life,” said José Vicente ‘Pepu’ Hernández, received on stage by José María Arrabal, general secretary of sports of the Junta de Andalusia.
In the international category, Nowitzki, who sent his message of gratitude, could not be present to receive his tribute. “I feel extraordinarily honored, many people have helped me in my career, including my family. A lot of teammates, coaches and the Dallas Mavericks, without whom I could not have had my career. Basketball has come a long way in many years “, and the Spanish Federation has been very outstanding, generating great talents. I am excited to enter this Hall of Fame alongside Pau Gasol and Felipe Reyes,” he stated.
“All of us who are here share the love for basketball. Thank you all for continuing to build this and giving more and more strength to women’s basketball and having a more open view. Basketball has given me an excuse to be who I am. Get to “What I have achieved makes me feel like I am a representative of everyone. I say it from the heart, because basketball is a team sport. Thank you very much, we will see you on the road,” said Laia Palau, the most successful player in Spanish women’s basketball.
One of the most anticipated speeches was that of Pau Gasol who was excited by the recognition in such a “long and privileged career.” “Explaining such a long and privileged career is difficult. All that remains is to thank many people. I will start, as Pepu said, with training basketball. I will never forget the day in the summer when I received the first letter from the Federation calling me for the first time to a national team, in which I met great players,” he said.
“One of the most important things we achieved was how: competing, working together, with mentality. I can only be grateful not only to my teammates and coaches but also to the physios, managers, doctors, props. And without my family I wouldn’t “I would be here today, my parents, who put the first basketball in my hands, my brothers, my wife, my children. The gratitude I have for basketball is eternal,” he concluded.
Last April, the FEB announced those chosen, in the first category, who were Pau Gasol, winner, among other things, of two NBA rings, three Olympic medals and a world gold medal; Laia Palau, Felipe Reyes; ‘Wonny’ Geuer, mother of the Hernangómez brothers; and Fernando Romay.
As for the coaches, the nominees were ‘Pepu’ Hernández, former national coach who led the team that made history in the 2006 World Cup, and the Croatian Bozidar Maljkovic, while Vicente Sanchís will be recognized for his refereeing work.
In addition, the ACB League, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the magazine ‘Gigantes’ were chosen as contributors, and the Argentine Luis Scola, the German Dirk Nowitzki, the Serbian Predag Danilovic and the Russian Natalia Zassouskaya were promoted. They were joined, ‘in memoriam’, by the international player Pilar Valero and the former referee and referee leader Ángel Sancha.
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