Spectacular and emotional V Spanish Basketball Gala at the Zarzuela Hippodrome in Madrid
The V Gala of Spanish Basketball, the annual event organized by the FEB and the Marca newspaper, experienced a spectacular and emotional evening this Wednesday night at the facilities of the Zarzuela Hippodrome in Madrid. Alberto Díaz, Mariona Ortiz, Izan Almansa, Helena Pueyo, Andrés Feliz, Rudy Fernández, Vega Gimeno and Sergio Rodríguez have collected their awards and Sandra Ygueravide that of her partner Gracia Alonso, in a ceremony attended by almost 200 guests and the Men’s Team that in a few days will face the Pre-Olympic in Valencia.
The V Spanish Basketball Gala, the project of the FEB and the Marca newspaper that started in 2019, experienced a spectacular and emotional evening this Wednesday night at the facilities of the Zarzuela Hippodrome in Madrid, in which the winners of season have collected their awards, in a ceremony presented by Marta Fernández and Vicente Ortega and attended by almost 200 guests, including institutional representatives, led by the president of the CSD José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, and the brands and sponsors of the FEB. The Gala also had the full presence of the Men’s National Team, before heading to Alicante, where on Saturday they will play their second preparation match for the Pre-Olympic.
The main protagonists have been Alberto Díaz, Mariona Ortiz, Izan Almansa, Helena Pueyo, Andrés Feliz, Rudy Fernández, Vega Gimeno and Sergio Rodríguez, as well as Gracia Alonso, whose award was collected by her partner Sandra Ygueravide.
Elisa Aguilar: “Happy to share with all these recognitions”
The first welcome was given by the president of the FEB, Elisa Aguilar, who wanted to highlight that “I was very excited to be here today, it is a special night in which basketball people meet, accompany the winners to recognize their trajectory and then continue chatting, share experiences, join all forces so that our basketball comes out stronger every day.” She also thanked the Marca newspaper for its company, “it has been five years now and we are delighted that there will be many more.” “Recognition of the winners is important and I am happy to share it with everyone.” And she has had special words of utmost affection for the three winners for their career and announced retirement: Rudy, Vega and ‘Chacho’.
Juan Ignacio Gallardo: “Let this Gala serve as a summons for Paris”
The second welcome was given by the director of the newspaper Marca, Juan Ignacio Gallardo, for whom “whenever you call us for anything, our answer will be yes.” He also welcomed everyone: “It is a huge satisfaction to be at this great basketball festival for the fifth consecutive year. We will always put the maximum emphasis on this sport.” He congratulated this season’s winners “and those who have had a spectacular career. Serve this Gala as a conspiracy for Paris. Let’s enjoy today as a prelude to something great that is going to come. And next year we will celebrate again as the big family that is basketball.”
Izan Almansa: “Very happy and proud”
The first prize of the night was collected by Izan Almansa, recognized as the Young Player with the Greatest Projection. “Very happy and proud to be here and receive this award,” he said. Hopefully in a few years I will be where those of the Absoluta are now, it is a dream that I hope will come one day.” The person in charge of presenting him with the award was the president of the Higher Sports Council, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes.
Andrés Feliz: “Many thanks to the FEB, Marca and Penya”
The Dominican point guard has collected two awards. Firstly, the Best Play of the Year in the men’s competition, the very distant triple that he scored in Badalona to decide the Joventut-Bilbao Basket of the Endesa League. The trophy was presented to him by Endesa’s communications director, María Lacasa. “The importance of that basket was that the team won, baskets like this are not trained, they are dreamed of,” she commented. Subsequently, he collected the International Award, for which he gave “thanks for this award to the FEB and Marca and to my team, Penya.” It was given to them by the president of the FEB, Elisa Aguilar, and the director of the newspaper Marca, Juan Ignacio Gallardo.
Sandra Ygueravide: “Thank you very much from Gracia”
The Best Basket of the season in women’s competition was that of Gracia Alonso, which put Spain 3×3 in the Olympic Games. Gracia is in the middle of the competition, so she has collected the award in the name of her teammate Sandre Ygueravide, who has assured that “the important thing about the basket is that she entered. And on behalf of Gracia, convey her gratitude for this award.” The person in charge of presenting the trophy was Raquel de Diego, from CaixaBank sponsorships.
Helena Pueyo: “I didn’t expect it, I’m very happy”
The award for the Young Player with the Greatest Projection went to Helena Pueyo, who stated that “I did not expect this award but I am very happy to be here today. Now to prepare with enthusiasm for what lies ahead.” She presented the award to Ricardo Inogés, communication and audiovisual manager of Renfe.
Mariona Ortiz: “Now I have the dream of going to Paris”
Next was the turn of Mariona Ortiz, elected Best National Player of the season. “I feel very comfortable in Zaragoza, it has been a turning point in my career. And now I have the dream of being in Paris.” The award was collected from the hands of Iñigo Roy, strategy director of CaixaBank.
Alberto Díaz: “It has been a very nice year”
And after Mariona, Alberto Díaz, the Best National Player of the season. For the point guard of the National Team, “this year has been very nice for Malaga sport, we hope it will be repeated. We have a very nice project and we want to continue. Thank you very much for remembering me with this award, but an award is always for the team, it makes me very happy for my team and my teammates.” Diego Clemente, director of communication for Renfe, presented him with the award.
Sergio Rodríguez: “It has been a pleasure”
The first Special Prize of the night was collected by Sergio Rodríguez. “It has been a process, thoughtful but overwhelmed, this week I have received many calls from people I appreciate and thank. It has been a pleasure, I had a good time, I hope they remember me as a player who I enjoyed and worked to win. Thank you very much to all”.
Vega Gimeno: “I am happy to end my Olympic career”
Vega Gimeno, another illustrious international who has announced her retirement, was next. For the Valencian, “I hope it was the right decision. Being an Olympian is the dream you had when you were little, I saw it as distant but I am going to be it. When I started in 3×3 I was not even an Olympian, and I am happy to end my career in this game that I love so much. And now that you are going to the Games, you are going to win, everything is possible, why not, we are going to go with our DNA.”
Rudy Fernández: “I will fight to be in Paris with the Fernández DNA that our father instilled in us”
The final point of the Gala was put by Rudy Fernández, the great captain of the SEAM. “Now we are in the preparation, the ambition has to be total and the boys are prepared,” he said, excitedly. For me, playing this Pre-Olympic and fighting to be in Paris is Fernández’s DNA, what our father instilled in us. We know the difficulty but we have the commitment.” And joking with his teammates: “May we give everything, let’s fight to the maximum… and give me the gift of experiencing a sixth Games.”
Rudy, like Sergio Rodríguez and Vega Gimeno, received his award from the president of the FEB, Elisa Aguilar, and the director of the newspaper Marca, Juan Ignacio Gallardo.
Rodríguez Uribes: “A basketball act is always wonderful”
The president of the CSD, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes, was in charge of closing the evening. He did so by saying that “I want to express the feelings that this event provokes. First, my gratitude to Elisa and Juancho for inviting me, every time I come to a basketball event it is wonderful.” He congratulated the award winners and highlighted “the legacy” left by those who have decided to retire and wished the Men’s Team luck. “The CSD is fully committed to basketball. Thank you all very much.”
2024-06-26 20:46:40
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