The Asturian Federation presented its awards yesterday at the gala that took place at the Hotel Zen Balagares in Corvera. Some awards in which, among others, Saúl Blanco, the best player Asturias has produced and who retired in 2021, was distinguished. The Oviedo native received the Federation’s honorary diploma, a distinction that was also given to another basketball classic Asturian who has recently left him, Nicasio García, former player of Atlética Avilesina. There was a special mention for José Alberto Álvarez, president of the Spanish Sports Federation for People with Physical Disabilities (FEDDF), for his sporting career.
Among the special recognitions, those that were given to some of the most promising Asturians stand out: Samuel Franco, summoned with the Spanish under-18, OCB youth squad and now at Estudiantes; Inés Noguero, who was silver with Spain in the European under-18, former player of the Group and now in the US; Iyana Martín, silver in the U16 European Championship and the U17 World Cup, OCB youth squad player and now in the 21st century; Alonso Grela, from the Ecole, with the Spanish under-16; Andy Helves, with the sub-15, Navia youth squad and now at Zentro Basket in Madrid; María García, with the sub-14; Gabriela Fuentes, with the sub-12; Diego Torre, with the sub-12, as well as the assistant coaches of the absolute Joaquín Prado, during the qualifying windows for the World Cup, and Jorge García Lorenzo, who was in that last World Cup in which Spain won.
The best coaches of the year have been Paula Bergel, from the OCB, and Armando Álvarez, from the Group. The best senior players were Jesús Casado (Barrio La Arena-APS) and Lucía Cavia (Group); the juniors, Adán Potesta (San Fernando College) and Ángela Engonga (ADBA); the cadets Alonso Grela (Ecole) and Paula Montalbán (OCB); children, Pelayo Barrio (Group) and María García (Navia); the fry Diego Torre (San Fernando) and Gabriela Fuentes (Group); and the youngest Jesús García (San Fernando) and Iris del Amo (Villa de Luanco).
