Dominators of the training categories but the League with fewer nationals

Spanish basketball lives another successful summer in the training categories. the two selections U17 were world runners-up falling only to the United States and the two U20 won their respective Eurobasket. Four medals that reconfirm the great job of clubs and FEB and that feed the illusion for the future, but that, at least in the male category, they do not guarantee that young people have opportunities in the bed.

The Endesa League has been the domestic competition with the fewest national players for years. According to data from an annual study carried out by FIBA, the downward trend of recent seasons has made the percentage either only 29%. “These are very worrying data”, said coach Sergio Scariolo a long time ago. And that the successes in lower categories come from afar. In the last 14 Eurobasket U20 that have been played, Spain climbed to the podium in 12 of them: three golds, three silvers and six bronzes. Many of those players stayed in the difficult and final step to the lite.

Of the 12 youngsters who were proclaimed European champions on Sunday, nine of them have already made their debut in the Endesa League, although their role has almost always been testimonial. The most experienced is Guillem Ferrando, Valencia Basket playerwho has accumulated 24 games in the ACB and 193 minutes, at an average of 8:03. Juan Nez, MVP of the tournament Despite being two years younger than the rest, he also has 24 games, to which he adds 10 more in the Euroleague. The point guard has finished his contract with the Real Madridwhich has not yet been renewed but has been included in the right of first refusal.

These young people, with opportunities, will know how to take advantage of the minutes and the confidence

Statement from the Association of Professional Basketball Players

From the Association of Professional Basketball Playersthrough a statement, celebrate the success of young people, but regret that “the compliments, wishes and good intentions fade over time and are diluted in the preseason. Only a few perform them with the first teams. Soon players with temporary contracts begin to parade while the young man with a medal loses importance, quality of training and becomes disillusioned. We cannot continue with our arms crossed waiting for goodwill or a change of consciousness. Those youngsters with opportunities will know how to take advantage of the minutes and the confidence”.

Showcases full of medals and pride

As soon as the U20 final was over, Jorge Garbajosa, president of the Federacin Espaola de Baloncestoconsidered that the successes of this summer “They give us an unbeatable photograph of the future of our basketball. We can’t guarantee medals, but I know we’ll give it our all on the track. These new generations are filling our showcases with medals and pride”.

These successes give us an unbeatable picture of the future of our basketball

Jorge Garbajosa, president of the Federacin Espaola de Baloncesto

In the FEB they are delighted with the training work carried out by the clubs and with the commitment of the ACB, which is willing to go from four to five quotas in the contracting framework for the next season. In addition, they value the joint work in a single basketball and empowering national players, beyond the fact that the percentages are one or the other due to the various circumstances that occur.

The U20 champions and the U17 runners-up, with Mara, Langarita, Hugo Gonzlez, De Larrea…, ask for passage in the ACB. If they are given opportunities and they take advantage of them, heACB will increase its percentage of national players and the senior team will be able to dream of maintaining recent successes.