Aragonese women’s basketball mourns the death of Pilar Valero this Monday. The emblematic player, great pioneer of the sport of the basket in the Community, He passed away at the age of 52 after a long illness.. With more than 100 caps for the Spanish team, the Zaragozan was part of one of the most glorious generations of Spanish basketball, with which she won the first and historic gold medal in the 1993 European Championship.
Valero also joined the unforgettable Banco Zaragozathe first Aragonese team to play in a continental competition, with which they won the Copa de la Reina in 1990. A title that today, three decades later, constitutes the greatest success of Aragonese women’s basketball.
As a result of his extensive track record, The Aragonese received numerous awards throughout her career. One of the most significant, the medal for sporting merit awarded by the Government of Aragon in March 2011. The most recent, the Women and Sport award that the Zaragoza City Council awarded him this same 2022 at the traditional Sports Gala. A year earlier, in 2021, she obtained the Aragonese Sports Legend award for 2019.
Zaragoza and Aragón have lost one of the historical figures of their basketball, a pioneer of our women’s sport, who received the Sports and Women’s Award in 2021 @zaragoza_es. Rest in peace.https://t.co/8avdlPDkYs
– Jorge Azcón (@Jorge_Azcon) November 7, 2022
After debuting at just 18 years old in the top flight, Valero packed his bags to leave Aragón and begin to carve out an unforgettable resume: six league titles, five Queen’s Cups and one European Cup will preside over its showcases forever.
Linked to the world of the basket from a very young age, Pilar Valero was also coordinator of the basketball section of Stadium Casablanca until 2014when she was relieved in office by Daniel Herrero.
A few minutes after knowing the fatal news, numerous Aragonese and Spanish basketball personalities have shown their condolences to family and friends. One of the first to mourn the loss of Pilar Valero has been the Councilor for Sports of the Zaragoza City Council, Cristina García, also a former basketball player.
I would never have wanted to read this sad news. But Pilar Valero has left us and I cannot feel more sadness for someone who still had a long life ahead of her and who has left too soon. D.E.P! ????????????
— Cristina Garcia ???????? (@CrisGarciaCs) November 7, 2022
“I would never have wanted to read this sad news. But Pilar Valero has left us and I cannot feel more sadness for someone who still had a lot of life ahead of her And it’s gone too soon. RIP!” Garcia wrote.
Casademont Zaragoza has also valued the “legacy” left by the player.
She conquered 7⃣ leagues and 5⃣ cups, was distinguished with the 2020 Aragonese Sports Legend award, obtained the Sports Merit medal awarded by the @GobAragon and is part of the FEB Hall of Fame
A legacy that paved the way we now travel. Rest in peace Pilar. pic.twitter.com/JGvVpKyhFe
— Casademont Zaragoza (@CasademontZGZ) November 7, 2022
Today is a day of deep sadness. Pilar Valero, one of the great basketball players from Aragon and who is part of the history of Stadium Casablanca, has left us.
???????? In 2019 he received the Oscar Lou Award for Human Values awarded by our club. @stcbaloncesto pic.twitter.com/URymgwTeEV— Stadium Casablanca (@stcasablancazgz) November 7, 2022