By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
EuroLeague Academy aims to pave the way for young basketball players at schools across various cities in Europe and made another step in this journey by taking part in the presentation of the Copa Colegial tournament at Colegio El Pilar in Valencia, Spain this Thursday (9/1).
Valencia Basket stars Fernando San Emeterio, Alberto Abalde and Leticia Romero – of Valencia’s women team – joined the opening event of this y
ear’s 18th edition of the school tournament, which attracts more than 5,000 student participants from 200 schools in nine major Spanish cities, including five whose local clubs play in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague or the 7DAYS EuroCup: Madrid, Barcelona, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Valencia and Malaga. A second presentation will be held on Friday in Madrid, which will have as many as 64 schools participating in both categories.
“I played in Copa Colegial with my classmates and friends, defending the colors of my school, and from that, I have good memories that will last for a lifetime,” Abalde said.
“Copa Colegial is a very beautiful project because the mix of basketball and friendship and fun and education through sport is very positive in the formation of children,” San Emeterio said. “I just regret that this competition did not exist when I was that age. I would love to have played in it.”
“For me, Copa Colegial was an unforgettable experience,” Romero said. “This model of formation through sports brings you to learn many things on a sporting level, but above all, it helps form you as a person and helps you to value yourself.”
Euroleague Basketball and Fundacion Baloncesto Colegial, which runs the Copa Colegial, are in a five-year partnership that aims to increase the importance and presence of basketball among students. Together, they aim to offer young people the unique experience of representing their schools on the court and bonding through basketball with fellow students. The Copa Colegial finals take place in Valencia from May 22 to 24.
Head to euroleaguebasketball.net for more information.
Photo: EuroLeague