The end of the season, of the club competitions, gives way to the analyzes and the prizes won by the most outstanding in the different competitions. The selections they now take command, with the Classification windowsthe boys, the World Cup in Septemberthe girls, or the different training tournaments that give so much success to the Spanish Federation. And as a starting signal, the Spanish Basketball Galaorganized by the FEB and MARKwhich this year celebrates its seventh edition and in which the best of the season will be awarded.
The Gala of this year, which will be held next June 30 in the Central Courtyard of Conde Duque in collaboration with the Madrid City Council and CaixaBankalready has its protagonists. He Jury He did his job to choose the best of this season, the most outstanding in the different categories. A representation of excellent moment that Spanish basketball is experiencing in all aspects.
The list of winners for this VII Gala is headed by Jaime Pradilla (best national player), Mario Saint-Supéry (Young player with greater projection), Hugo Gonzalez (best Spanish player in international competition), Iyana Martin (best national player), Elena Buenavida (young player with greater projection) and Maite Cazorla (best Spanish player in international competition). There will also be a special prize for the 2006 World Champion team in Saitamaa historic moment in our basketball. Internet users will be able to vote, like other years, for the best baskets. The Jury also agreed to give an in memoriam recognition to Eduardo Portela and a special mention to the referees Ariadna Chueca and Esperanza Mendoza.
The members of the Jury. Seated, from left to right: Santos Moraga, Antonio Martín, Elisa Aguilar, Juancho Gallardo and Óscar Graefenhain. Standing, from left to right: José Asensio, Lucila Pascua, Aauri Bokesa, Luis Manuel Sancha, Antonio Aberturas, Jesús Sánchez and Jorge Quiroga.
One more year, the FEB opened the doors of its house for the Jury to cast their votes in order to choose the best. On this occasion the Jury was made up of Elisa Aguilar (president of the FEB), Juan Ignacio Gallardo (Brand Director), Aauri Bokesa on behalf of José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes (Higher Sports Council), Sonia Cea (Madrid City Council), Santos Moraga (president of the Madrid basketball federation), Oscar Graefenhain (General Director of the FEB), Antonio Martin (president of the ACB), Jose Asensio (Endesa Women’s League Clubs Association), Alfonso Reyes (president of the ABP), Lucila Pascua (president of AJUB), Luis Manuel Sancha (president of the AEBA), Antonio Aberturas on behalf of Joan María Gavaldà (AEEB), Jesus Sanchez (Brand) and Jorge Quiroga (Brand).
Best national player: Jaime Pradilla
Exceptional season for the Aragonese, the best of his career, in line with that of his team, champion of the Super Cup, semi-finalist of the Copa del Rey and the Euroleague and finalist of the Endesa League. Pradilla has been one of the most solid pieces of a perfectly oiled machine and has taken giant steps in maturity to be a leader on his team, leading the Taronja in rating, rebounds and consistency. He will continue to be essential for Chus Mateo in the national team.
Young player with the greatest progression: Mario Saint-Supéry
It continues to grow as a base for the future for Spain. Brilliant in his first year in the NCAA where he averaged 8.6 and 3.6 at Gonzaga University. His game has progressed as he moves closer to the pure point guard position, adapting to the physical challenge of playing in collegiate competition. He did not arrive as a star and ended up being essential in his team’s season. He finished with 40% in the triples in an improvement that only demonstrates his ability to work. He is no longer a promising player, he is a serious NBA player project.
Best national player in international competition: Hugo González
Hugo’s season can be rated with a notable, something very complicated when we talk about being a rookie in the NBA playing for the Celtics. But in his learning season, he has taken accelerated courses in many aspects that will give him experience in the coming campaigns. Hugo, without Tatum in the rotation, earned minutes on the Celtics thanks to his energy, his defensive ability and his talent. He has had to defend some stars of the League. One of the most positive aspects of the Spaniard is his ability to improve his team when he is on the court, a statistic in which he stood out throughout the NBA season. He has a lot to improve, of course, but his first season in a ring contender like Boston makes clear the future he has ahead of him. He will be a regular in Chus Mateo’s calls.
Best national player: Iyana Martín
The young player from Perfumerías Avenida achieves an outstanding rating in her season, consolidating herself as one of the best point guards on the European scene. In the Endesa Women’s League she averaged 14.3 points and 4.7 assists, greatly improving her performance compared to the previous year. He smoothly assumed the role of leader of his team, increased his scoring ability and improved his game direction. It is one of the great bases for the future in the national team.
Young player with the greatest progression: Elena Buenavida
Shining in a squad like Valencia Basket is within the reach of a few… and one of them is Elena Buenavida. She has entered directly into the elite of Spanish women’s basketball on her own merits, among other things for her growth and for being one of the most reliable players within the Taronja team’s extensive rotation. Despite his youth, he has emerged in big events, such as when he was MVP of the first game of the league final against Casademont Zaragoza, achieving 19 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists and leading a key victory for the title. She has greatly improved her offensive game and is a brutal defender. The selection is in good hands.
National player in international competition: Maite Cazorla
Indispensable player both in an elite European team like USK Prague and in the Spanish national team, where she will share many minutes with Iyana Martín and Elena Bienavida. Cazorla’s impact on his team’s game, more than with statistics, must be measured in his importance in the direction of the game and in the leadership he exercises on the court, which is priceless. In the Women’s Euroleague she has been above five assists per match, which demonstrates her passing ability and her ability to read games. She is an ideal player to put the fate of a match in her hands.
Special award: 2006 World Champion Spanish team
If in 1984 Spanish basketball had its turning point in the Olympic silver, in 2006 it had it in the World Cup gold. They are two milestones that forever marked Spanish basketball, that have shaped it in their own way. The generation of 2006 was the one that has actually built one of the most glorious moments in the history of Spanish basketball.
Close to its 20th anniversary, the FEB and MARCA wanted to have recognition with the team that, formed by José Manuel Calderón, Carlos Cabezas, Segio Rodríguez, Juan Carlos Navarro, Rudy Fernández, Berni Rodríguez, Carlos Jiménez, Álex Mumbrú, Pau Gasol, Jorge Garbajosa, Felipe Reyes and Marc Gasol, and coached by Pepu Hernández, won World gold, the first for Spain, in Saitama. 2006 is the year in which a journey that has lasted a decade and a half with podiums and triumphs in all competitions actually began and that continues to have its impact today.
In memoriam: Eduardo Portela
Days before the constitution of the Jury, basketball received the terrible news of the death of Eduardo Portela, the father of the ACB. For this reason, at the request of all members, a special recognition was included for his figure ‘In memoriam’ for how much he meant to basketball. To a large extent he was the architect of what we now know as modern basketball in Spain. After coaching Barça with whom he won the Copa del Rey in 1979, he joined the ACB as manager until he held the position of president. In that period he was a precursor in the modernization of the Association and promoted new competition models, such as including the Playoffs in the League or transforming the Cup into a single venue and eight teams as we know it now, one of the most successful formulas in the world of basketball.
Special mention: Ariadna Chueca and Esperanza Mendoza
At the Jury meeting it was also decided to give a special mention to two referees, Ariadna Chueca and Esperanza Mendoza, both from the Endesa League, who this season have achieved a milestone such as being appointed to direct an entire European final, the final of the women’s Europe Cup. It is another example of the enormous progression of Spanish arbitration.