BadalonaAndrés Feliz (Santo Domingo, 1987) had not yet been born the last time the King’s Cup was held in Badalona. Hours before playing against Cazoo Baskonia (9.30 p.m., #Vamos), the Dominican base of Joventut reviews a childhood fraught with dangers in ARA and analyzes the options of La Penya.
What was your childhood like?
— I grew up in Guachupita, in Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic). It’s the neighborhood where I was raised and grew up, where my whole family still lives. It was an environment where I had very few opportunities, but thanks to my family and basketball I was able to get ahead. It is a very difficult and problematic neighborhood. It was very hard. We were always hanging around in the street because we didn’t have video games or cell phones. When I was little I rarely had the legs to play basketball. And when I had them I also had to use them to go to school and play in the park, for everything. The level of crime in the neighborhood complicated everything.
What role did your family play?
— I grew up with four sisters and one sister, but despite the difficulties, my parents knew how to guide us on the right path. I know people who ended up in prison and some even died. They taught me that the right path had to go through school and basketball, they taught me a life outside of crime. Between all the siblings, moreover, we always took care and protected each other a lot.
Now that things are going well for you, do you keep in touch with the people in the neighborhood?
— Yes, my whole family still lives there. When I go to the Dominican Republic I always spend some time in the neighborhood. I try to share what I have, because I am content with little. When I was little I had practically nothing. Now I can share a few things. If I can make a child smile, I do. When I go there, I try to collect things and not go there empty-handed.
What role did religion play in your life?
— My family is very religious. I always thank God for all the opportunities I have had. My life has not been easy, but I feel privileged. Many of the other young people did not have the same opportunities. It’s very hard, because I lost a lot of friends.
When did you start playing basketball?
— When I was three years old, my father took me to a park where there was a basketball hoop. And since I was very young I acquired my love for basketball. My mother was also a basketball player and they always instilled in me a great love for the sport. At 13 or 14 is when I started to take things more seriously. I was invited to a pre-selection for the best players under the age of 17. I made it to the national team in 2013 and had the opportunity to travel to Puerto Rico where there was an international tournament. We won the gold medal and that opened a lot of doors for me.
He went to the United States.
— Yes, they gave me a scholarship. Thank God I was able to take advantage of it and I have a degree in sociology. I left alone, without any relatives, and it was hard at first because I didn’t know the language well. I was only 16 and it was complicated, but that experience helped me become the person I am. I learned to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way.
Now he has a nice one with the Copa del Rei de Badalona.
— The team is very eager to do well in a tournament in which the best are present. We want to play the first match now and we hope to offer the best version of Joventut. We are not the favourites, but playing at home and with the pace we are on we are sure we will do well. We only focus on the first game against Baskonia, it’s the only thing on our minds.
His position rival will be Markus Howard, one of the sensations of the competition.
— Yes, he must be given a lot of credit because he is a player who has a lot of quality. We will try to respond with a good collective defensive level. They have good shooters and so we have to do things very well on defense. This will allow us to play a good game and gain rhythm in attack.
How do you see the tournament?
— I think there may be surprises. It is a very attractive event. The eight teams have a high level and every match is decisive, because if you lose you are eliminated. Only those who play better will be able to advance. Being a favorite is no guarantee of anything. Everyone wants to win and the defense can have a decisive influence on the results. I imagine low scoring in many of the games.
His relationship with the fans is very intense.
— The people of La Penya are very special, they always support our basketball. They always help us and make me feel very good. We want to continue growing and improving to give more to the club and the city. Badalona gave me the first opportunity to be in the Endesa League, I am very happy to be here.
