A major league talent in Baby Basketball

Photography: Luis Benavides

By: Mateo Arroyave Diaz

It is just a few minutes before the start of the match between Coogranada and Club Esgamba Bogotá, which will define the third place in the Baby Basketball of the Festival of Festivals. It does not matter that this duel does not define the champion, both quintets arrived at Iván de Bedout with the desire to leave everything on the field, because the bronze medal is something that also fills with pride when remembering that there were 24 teams that were present at the tournament.

The match did not disappoint: 44-40 was the final score in favor of the Antioquia team. The special addition is that those who defended the white and yellow color on the court, managed to reverse the result during the final minutes of the last quarter, moments in which Ana Noreña, Coogranada’s setter, brought out all her talent and character.

Clutch baskets, 30 points and 17 rebounds were enough to lead her teammates in the comeback that meant for her franchise to be part of the podium in the XVI edition of Baby Basketball, being a sample of the talent of the girl who, with just 14 years, not only has he been part of the Antioquia U13 National Team, but he has also been present in the U17 processes of the Verdiblanco team.

Playing alongside athletes up to three years older than her has not been an easy task, also taking into account that she had to leave the Intercollegiate Departments at that time to be able to travel with the Antioquia team.

“It was a great challenge because it was my first national. In strength, technique and experience they are much better than me, but I always tried to give my best, to give one hundred percent and I think I did quite well”, said the Coogranada leader with a smile from end to end.

His time in the sub17 gave him the necessary maturity to perform with great authority, as he did that morning against Club Esgamba in moments under pressure. The smile never went away, because hours later at the award ceremony, Ana was awarded the tournament’s top scorer (113 points) and the tournament’s top rebounder trophy (74 rebounds).