Fernando Romay on Young Players Called by Scariolo: “Let’s Hope They Are Rewarded with the Minutes They Don’t Get in the League” | TodoAlicante

Last week, Scariolo’s list for the FIBA windows was announced. It was a list missing Euroleague players due to scheduling conflicts, and notably absent was Santi Aldama, a key player for the national team and a future leader, currently with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Among those called up, many from Unicaja, are young talents making their first appearance for the national team, such as Mario Saint-Supery from Manresa and Rafa Villar from Lleida. Returning is the dynamic point guard Sergio De Larrea from Valencia Basket, while Rubén Domínguez and Jordi Rodríguez, from Bilbao Basket and Primera FEB respectively, join as guests.

Following the last international tournament where Spain struggled in a tough group stage, the generational shift is becoming evident with a list full of young players, although some are already considered ‘veterans’, like Jaime Pradilla. In this context, Spanish basketball legend Fernando Romay has positively assessed their inclusion in Sergio Scariolo’s list and predicts a bright future for national basketball: “They will bring us many successes.”

Romay expressed these views to the media after his conference at the Hotel Huerto del Cura in Elche, part of the Circular Conferences of the Cámara Business Club. The Olympic medalist and former Real Madrid center criticized the limited opportunities for national players in the ACB, especially the young ones.

“Of all the European leagues, the Spanish one is where national players play the least,” Romay stated, explaining that they account for just over 30% of all players and only receive 12% of the total minutes. “Their progression is becoming difficult in this regard,” Romay criticized.

Therefore, he supports the role of the national team in aiding their development. “That’s what the national team is for,” Romay said, hoping that “The Family will reward them with the minutes they don’t get from the rest of the Spanish league,” as the national basketball legend believes “they deserve it and have tremendous quality.”

Romay wanted to remind that “they have been part of The Family for a long time.” The former player mentioned some of the tournaments won by this group of young players in lower categories and is confident that “they will bring us many successes.”

The current ambassador of the Spanish Basketball Federation insists that “opportunities must be given to the young” and explains that “a team is nourished by experience and young people, and you have to give opportunities to your own.” Romay recalls that “the future of basketball is in their hands” and criticizes the lack of opportunities in the ACB.