Alba Torrens (Binisalem, Mallorca, 1989) is pure history in the National Team. She has eight medals (two European golds) and is with 193 caps for Spain just five away from surpassing Laura Nicholls (197) and entering the all-time Top-10. Besides, is 40 points away from replacing Amaya Valdemoro as the top scorer ever in the Eurobasket with the national shirt: 675 for 636.
Figures that reflect the relevance that the forward has had in recent years with the National Team and also the importance that she still has in a present that leads this Sunday to those of Miguel Méndez to a key match against Greece (19:45 Spanish time, Tdp) to qualify for the qualifying rounds for the Pre-Olympic and for the medals.
A victory against Fasoula and Spanou would certify the pass. The final position in the group no longer depends on them: if they win and Latvia, who plays at 11:15 against Montenegro, falls, they will be first and they will go straight into the Ljubljana quarters. If they win, but also Latvia, they will close as second and will have to play their trip to Slovenia in the round of 16, without time to breathe, on Monday the 19th.
The Selection will fall to third place if it loses and so does Montenegro. Removal is not ruled out: if they don’t win and neither does Latvia, Spain will return home empty-handed.
How much weight did you take off with the victory against Montenegro?
I don’t know whether to talk about weight… we consider it a very important game, just like everyone else in the championship. We got many positive things: the first, the victory, which was vital for us; and then also, that without the wind in our favor we knew how to manage the match. That was very positive for how we finished the game.
The way they won was very positive, wasn’t it?
Of course the most important thing was victory, but it is true that with the needs we had during the game, the team responded. We knew how to play with a tight score and it was not easy. These situations are making us grow. Although the focus of yesterday (for Friday) was the victory, the difference in points in the victory and the sensations with which we ended up.
During the match against Latviaand during the subsequent press conference, she was seen, I don’t know if angry, frustrated…
There were many illusions, we did not want that defeat, far from it. And, at that moment, you have a lot of emotions, without being able to make a real reflection of what that game is, of how it went. What I did see at that moment is that we could have won and it was not achieved.
We knew that it was a championship in which anything could happen, we knew that we could start with a defeat because it is a very open tournament. And of course: I don’t like to lose. But even if there are things you don’t like, you must know how to manage them.
You have to look at it calmly, reflectively, let the emotions pass… but feel them. In the end we are human and we feel. Not doing it would be worse. After the games I always try to make constructive criticism because you have to think about the next day and learn lessons to be able to apply them.
Now, Greece, what do you expect?
hard match. Sure. Of that we have no doubts, anything can happen. And more than focusing on them, on what can happen, on whether we win or lose… we must focus on ourselves. In what we can control, in what is in our hands and, now, put all our energy into this. The things we can’t control, let them go.
Focus on what we have to do today (for yesterday): this training session, continue with the sensations. It was time to correct and practice things to arrive tomorrow (for today) prepared, every day a little better prepared in this championship. New game, new day, a match in which we want to win, but we can’t wait for victory, we have to focus on what we have to do to achieve it.
And you, how are you after a season with physical problems?
Very good. Physically I am very happy with how I am right now. It hasn’t been like that during the season, but right now it is. I’m not thinking about my physique beyond, I’m just focused on playing.
How much rope does Alba Torrens have left?
I don’t know (laughs). I guess less than what I already have. It is the law of life. Don’t know. I try to be honest with myself to be honest with others. Right now I am very much in the present, in this moment. I am in the here and now. When the European is over, I will recalibrate once more. To question yourself, to wonder… and to feel. I’ll make the decisions.
After so much career, isn’t it hard to be like this? Looking every summer how one is doing?
No, I think it’s part. It is what you want to give. Right now I have to do more things off the track to be on the track, but it’s worth it. I don’t see it as a sacrifice. It’s a choice. The price off the track is this. Everything has a price. For me, doing everything I have to do to be physically fit is worth it. I continue with enthusiasm, with a purpose beyond myself, to be. I feel good and I really like what I do: it’s a way to grow, to express myself, to create… and, for now, it’s the place where I have to be. Tomorrow we’ll see.
Who is Miguel Mendez for you? (The coach and Torrens coincided at Celta and Yekaterinburg. The result, three Euroleagues with the Russian team)
A very important person in my life. An aspiration in values and way of doing. A teacher on and off the track… Yes, what I told you.
Which is not little.
It’s not little. He is a person, truly and I am very sorry, to whom I am very grateful for everything he has given me and taught me. And for the way he has done it. Every day he helps me.
I feel real admiration for him.
Yes. There’s no denying it.
He is with a new generation, mary count, Raquel Carrera… How do you see them? Is the future yours?
I don’t think we have to talk about the future with them. You have to talk about the present. They are showing that they are what they already are. They have no limits, of course. And they will go as far as they want to go. It is very important that you do not set limits, or expectations, or that you compare yourself to anything, that you make your way. They are playing at the highest level both in this European Championship and these years in their clubs, in the Euroleague.
I think that they are managing everything that is happening to them very well and that speaks highly of them, of a maturity that is inappropriate for their age. An innate talent, but also always very aware that things cost. And that you have to go for them. They are clear about it and it is one of the reasons for being here. They inspire me, they teach me, they help me and they motivate me to continue, and to be here with this common objective that we have.
She is 40 points away from surpassing Amaya Valdemoro as the top scorer for the National Team in the Eurobasket. What would it mean to you?
I’ve been here for many years, I don’t know how to take it (laughs). They are numbers, in the end what I am clear about is that what I have done here, and not just the points, I have not done it alone. I am grateful for having the opportunity to continue in this team, for what this team means to me, for having the great fortune of having played with so many great players who have made me better in the end, who have made many of these points will enter and being very aware that one does not arrive here alone. I feel grateful for everything I have lived, for what I am living.
CLASSIFICATION
TEMPLATES
| pos. | Height | Age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | TO | 184 | 33 |
| – | _APR | 0 | |
| 5 | B. | 171 | 32 |
| – | _APR | 0 | |
| 24 | P | 31 | |
| 33 | TO | 184 | 27 |
| twenty-one | P | 193 | 0 |
| 12 | AND | 178 | 25 |
| 22 | AND | 186 | 31 |
| pos. | Height | Age | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | B. | 170 | 27 |
| fifteen | TO | 190 | 30 |
| 6 | B. | 170 | 33 |
| twenty-one | AND | 184 | 26 |
| 10 | B. | 170 | 23 |
| 5 | TO | 188 | 19 |
| 55 | B. | 178 | 38 |
| 26 | AND | 33 | |
| 12 | P | 186 | 39 |