The legendary Dominican basketball leader, Fernando Teruel was confirmed as immortal of the sport for the 2022 class, which will be held on Sunday, November 13 in the auditorium of the Dominican Sports Fame pavilion, indicated that the biggest trophy of his career He receives him daily with the affection and respect that his players offer him.
“When they see me on the street or on the courts and tell me how much my person has influenced their lives, that is precisely the biggest trophy of my career, it is a daily trophy and of great value to me.”
Teruel, will join the niche of the immortals of the Dominican Republic as a promoter and will join the sports editor of Listín Diario, Héctor J. Cruz and former Major League pitcher, Efraín Váldez.
Double Satisfaction
“God has blessed me, because this year they immortalize me in my hometown of La Vega and immortality also comes to national sport. It is the greatest satisfaction that any athlete can feel and I thank God, life and all the athletes who have accompanied me on this path”.
Teruel, who has in his resume, the peculiarity of having directed the national basketball team in categories, such as mini benjamín, superior and master in the feminine and masculine branch, affirmed that in more than 5 decades of work in basketball, has never sought merit or recognition, but to serve as a training tool for men and women through sport.
“I never dreamed of being in the Hall of Fame, far from it, I have not worked for economic benefits either, I retired very early from the game to dedicate myself to teaching, because sport is an instrument to build a better country,” said an emotional Teruel.
The first important title that Teruel embraced as a leader was with the province of La Vega, in 1974 in the School Tournament.
A year later, in 1975, Teruel was champion in the Superior Basketball Tournament of the National District with the Montecarlo Astros and which he qualifies as a fundamental achievement in his career, because at just 23 years old he made history in capital basketball.
“This championship was very important in my career, because it opened the doors for everything else, perhaps if the result was different today it would not be Fernando Teruel, but one more in La Vega”.
The La Vega native also said he felt highly privileged to share sports immortality with figures such as Frank Krawinkel, Faisal Abel and Humberto Rodriguez, who have been a source of inspiration in his career.
Grateful
Teruel thanked the club Mauricio Báez in the framework of the celebration of its 59th anniversary for the opportunity he received from the club’s board in the early 1980s to work with a group of unknown youngsters for a period of two years, which later won three championships in four final series.
“Mauricio Báez gave me the most beautiful moments of my life and to be able to help the development of club players like Boyón Domínguez, Ramón (Montante) Castillo, Roberto Abad, Jesús-Chu-Mercedes, who later formed part of the national team. It was something very special,” said Teruel.
