Gaby del Carmen is no stranger to the thrill of competition, and his experience in the Copa del Rey is a testament to his skills on the court. Having played for various teams, including Cisneros and VOLOY PALMA, he has consistently proven himself to be a formidable opponent. With his current team, CV Melilla, he’s gearing up to take on Grupo Herce in the 21st century of Zaragoza, a challenge he’s eager to tackle.
When asked about his motivation for the Copa del Rey, Gaby del Carmen admits that the competition brings out the best in him. “All athletes who play in this competition motivate themselves a little more,” he says. “The Copa del Rey is a beautiful tournament, full of surprises, and everyone wants to give their best and compete for the title.” He cites the recent Queen Cup as an example, where surprises are always around the corner, and anything can happen in a single game.
Looking back at his time with Cisneros, Gaby del Carmen remembers the surprise he and his team pulled off last year. This year, with Melilla, he’s facing a tough match against Grupo Herce, but he’s confident that his team can rise to the challenge. “We come from a very positive dynamic,” he explains. “We had a good approach in our last game, but we didn’t know how to take advantage of it. This time, we need to polish our details to win.”
As for the differences between the Super League match and the Cup, Gaby del Carmen notes that the recent game against Grupo Herce is still fresh in their minds. However, he acknowledges that the Cup is a different story, and each player takes it differently. “We’re motivated to give our best version and try to take the game,” he says. The fact that the match will be played on a neutral court, without the home advantage that Grupo Herce had last week, could also work in Melilla’s favor.
The rivalry between Melilla and Grupo Herce is well-known, with a long history of competition between the two teams. Gaby del Carmen recognizes this, saying, “Soria is a historical place, they always had very good projects, very good teams, and always aspired to be present in that competition, even winning titles.” He believes that Melilla, on the other hand, has been taking steps to become one of the important teams in the Super League, and now it’s time to beat Grupo Herce and give a good show for everyone.
As he prepares for the Copa del Rey, Gaby del Carmen is feeling motivated. “In a cup match, anything can happen,” he says. “The two teams arrive at a very good level, and we have to take advantage of the mistakes they make to take it to us.” He also hopes that the video check will help the competition focus more on sports, reducing the pressure on referees and allowing them to focus on the game.
When asked if he’s one of the players who rejoice in the Copa del Rey, Gaby del Carmen smiles. “Hopefully,” he says. “We all work every day to play a good role. I want to focus on helping the team achieve our objectives and give that first step against Soria.” He acknowledges that the change in dynamics, with the long trips in Europe no longer a factor, has helped the team. “It’s one of the factors, but also at the beginning, we were a new team where almost all important pieces were replaced,” he explains. “It cost us to take pace, but thanks to European competitions and Super League parties, we went from less to more.”
Finally, Gaby del Carmen has a message for the people of Melilla who will be supporting him and the team. “It will be a great game,” he says. “When they come to Imbroda, they help us a lot. They’re a very close hobby, and whoever comes, come to enjoy that game, the experience of the cup, and surely we will give some joy.” With his passion and dedication to the sport, Gaby del Carmen is ready to take on the challenge of the Copa del Rey and give it his all.