Marc Gasol: “I used my head because I didn’t have a physique” | Basketball | Sports | EUROtoday

The Moroccan Pavilion through the 1992 Universal Exhibition hosted the fourth version of the Spanish Basketball Hall of Fame in Seville, organized this Thursday by the Spanish Federation and the newspaper AS. This Hall of Fame opened its doorways to 11 new members: Marc Gasol, Marina Ferragut, Jorge Garbajosa, Betty Cebrián, Wayne Brabender, Drazen Petrovic —in memoriam— and Audie Norris as gamers; referee Pilar Landeira; coach Moncho Monsalve; the journalist Antoni Daimiel; and the U19 Men’s National Team, world champion of the class in 2023 within the workforce class.

“That we are here today is largely thanks to the work of Jorge Garbajosa,” mentioned Elisa Aguilar, president of the Spanish Basketball Federation, to open the gala of crucial occasion in Spanish basketball. A element from the president, who had phrases in her preliminary speech to gloss the determine of every of the winners.

“At this moment I would like to remember two very important people in my career,” Gasol mentioned. “The first is Montse Peris, my coach at school, who taught me how to compete. Then, to a coach like Miguel López Abril, a brutally honest person. He told me that physically I was a brunette and that I had to use my head. I will always thank him because he was right and thanks to him I was able to continue advancing,” he mentioned after receiving his award. Little, nearly nothing, stays of that child who obtained the decision from Pepu Hernández to hitch the Spanish workforce’s coaching camp in San Fernando in 2006. He ended up profitable two World Cups with Spain in 2006 and 2019 (the one one with Rudy Fernández) and an NBA ring with the Toronto Raptors in 2019.

“I was lucky, too, to be born into the family I was born into. And good luck with my partner to have my children. The road has been unbeatable since those fights over Pau in the patio of my grandparents’ house. It was not a dream, it was a reality,” added Marc Gasol.

“I don’t deserve this distinction. The reason for my life is basketball, but never forget the people you have by your side,” mentioned Moncho Monsalve in an emotional speech. He is among the most profitable coaches in Spanish basketball. 24 years later, from 1999 to 2023, the Spanish underneath 19 workforce as soon as once more gained a World Cup within the class. For this purpose, he obtained his recognition in an occasion that Aleksandar Petrovic, Drazen’s brother, who was additionally inducted into the Spanish Basketball Hall of Fame 31 years after his tragic dying in a visitors accident, couldn’t attend.

With Petrovic stranded in Munich, it was Fernando Romay who collected the award on behalf of the household of the Croatian genius. “Drazen was a genius, but there was something I learned in the year I was with him at Madrid. Behind that genius there was a lot of work, he didn’t stop working,” mentioned Romay himself. “It is a message for the youngest people because they worked harder than anyone else,” he mentioned.

A complete of 28 titles with Madrid adorn Wayne Brabender, the third scorer within the historical past of the Spanish workforce. “It was an honor to defend the Spain shirt,” mentioned Brabender, helped by Marc Gasol to have the ability to stand up on stage attributable to his knee issues.

Pilar Landeira talked about her historical past of enchancment as a global referee. Retired in 2004, she participated within the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. “Behind this award there are many people, such as the trainers who made me be the best possible referee to open a door that was unthinkable as directing matches in the ACB,” she said.

“I played for six years at Barcelona, ​​where I also developed as a person. Basketball has been my life,” clarified Audie Norris, who starred in legendary duels with Fernando Martín, the Real Madrid middle, through the Eighties.

Marina Ferragut, 253 instances capped by Spain, Betty Cebrián, Jorge Garbajosa, and journalist Antoni Daimiel closed the checklist of winners. “You can’t always win. We have a good selection. “It is a very special night for me,” mentioned Garbajosa.