Sebas Sainz (Madrid, 28 years old) exudes happiness and determination. The center accumulates both sweat and smiles at the Magariños Sports Center, the regular headquarters of Estudiantes, converted these days into the headquarters of the Spanish team, immersed in the preparation of the Eurobasket, which will begin to play from September 1 in Georgia. Many new faces, the Gasols and the Chacho are no longer there, and the new roles are shared. Despite not having played any major tournament with the senior team, Sainz is one of the oldest, the Madrid-born veteran in the lower categories of the national team and after a labyrinthine but very satisfying career. From the academies of Real Madrid and Estudiantes to Japan, after passing through the United States, where he was one of the first Spaniards to cross the pond. At the University of Mississippi, in addition to honing his powerful physique, he had time to develop an unlikely friendship with famed actor Morgan Freeman, whose partner was Sainz’s professor at the institution. After returning to Spain and not making a significant dent in the ACB, in 2019 he decided to try his luck in Tokyo, where he has become a reference and where he has reached his physical and mental fullness. Now, with the balance balanced, he dreams of being on Scariolo’s final list to fight for the European Championship. Related News Eurobasket standard No France forces its internationals to swear that they will not sign for Russian teams Pablo Lodeiro Fernández The members of the French team must sign a document to be able to attend the Eurobasket and the Paris 2024 Games Question -What aspects are you focusing on? Scariolo this preparation for the Eurobasket? Answer -It is a strange concentration because we have very few training sessions and many games and trips. We are trying to cover everything from the beginning. Q -There are many changes in the selection, will we see a Spain different from that of other great events? R-The team is always the team. We have the same spirit and the same desire to compete as always. In the end, it is the law of life that new players enter over the years. Q-You have a lot of experience, have you had to practice as a veteran? R-In the end, yes. Beyond Sergi (Lull) and Rudy, the generation of ’94 are the oldest. Los Hernangómez, Alberto Díaz, Darío (Brizuela)… there are many teammates who were together in the lower categories and now we have to join hands in the absolute. But we’ve all known each other forever. The new ones are great kids. The ‘Family’ thing is not a saying, we are all brothers. P-Is it your turn to give a lot of ‘stick’ in the inside game, in defense…? R-Yes, it’s what I like (laughs). Even though I’m two meters bare, I like to beat the crap out of everyone. And they suffer too. Even if they take eight or ten centimeters away from me, they remember me every time the game ends. Q- Do you think that the national team lacks that intensity and athletic component that the less usual ones can give it? R-We have that advantage. The Gasols were great defenders, they knew where to be at all times… That’s a quality that is much more important than always being active. But hey, now we have a team of more athletic people, with more energy, more movement. We can press more on all pitches and squeeze more on blocks… Q-How do you see Lorenzo Brown adapting? R-Very good, we have accepted him in ‘the Family’, in the team. He comes with great enthusiasm to work and to do it well. He comes to help for this year and I hope for many more. P-A slightly different profile perhaps to what has been seen so far in the national team, a pure scorer. R-Well, we had Ricky who lately put 30 points to whoever he wanted. He has come to help in a position where he is needed (point guard) and he is one of the team. Q-It seems that in his career he has always taken the detour before the main road, is it intentional? R- I’ve been looking for it. In the end, whenever I make a decision I think about what is best for me, not for the world in general. What best suits my life, my personal issues, where I want to direct my career… That’s what I’ve done since I left the Estudiantes at the age of 17 for the United States to play for a year in the university league. That, curiously, I was one of the first Spaniards to do so. I had a great career, I was there for five years, I tried out for the NBA and then I signed with Madrid. After finishing the contract, I realized that I was free. He could continue in the ACB in a mid-table team, but he wanted to play, feel the ball in his hands and that’s where the option of the Asian leagues came up. Going to Japan… it has been the best decision of my life. Q-Beyond basketball, how is life there? R-It’s a very hermetic place, but within the country there is a lot of culture, that’s why they don’t need people from outside to get rich. They take such good care of it and feel so much their own that they don’t need tourism or things from outside. I am lucky that I live in Tokyo, I am an hour from the beach and an hour from Mount Fuji. PA medium term, what do you plan for your career? R-I only think about the European Championship, it is what I dedicate all my energy to right now. I still have a year left on my contract in Japan, we have the hope of winning the league, with a new coach and a couple of very good signings… In the future, well, nobody knows. I would love to return to Spain, of course. Al Estudiantes for example, but things are as they are. You have to see many things: family issues, the economy, how I am, if I have children in the future… Everything has an influence. Q-Do you get the feeling that this call comes at the right time in your career? R-I have never been in such a good moment physically in my career. If I get into the team, perfect, but if not, too. It’s in my hands, I don’t want to get into a carom. Q- Antetokounmpo’s Greece, Jokic and Micic’s Serbia… Is it the highest level Eurobasket in recent years? -There are many teams. I remember that I played against Giannis in the U-18 European Championship, he was a stick and I put a cap on him that I threw on the ground. Now he picks me up and puts me into the basket (laughs). But yes, there are many players. Doncic is also going and he is one of the best in the world. Serbia, France… The level is very high and it is going to be noticed. We have to go game by game, stick our heads in and see where we are when we finish the first phase. Fables cannot be made.
