On Spain and qualifying for Paris 2024: “The options and expectations are very high, I hope it goes well”
The 20th Pau Gasol Academy by Santander will have more than 450 participants from 24 countries
BARCELONA, 11 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The former Spanish international player Pau Gasol presented this Tuesday the twentieth edition of his basketball academy and assured that Barça, his last club as a professional, must look for a project with “continuity and journey” and be patient with the new coach, while he believes that Spain has “options and expectations” in order to be in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, for which it must qualify in the Valencia Pre-Olympic Games at the beginning of July.
“At Barça, new players were signed, almost a third of the team, and that takes time to consolidate. You must look for a project with continuity, with a journey, looking at the medium-long term, for it to be successful. Sometimes it works and sometimes No, but putting it this way is important. Even if titles are not won in the first year, we have to continue learning. I am convinced that work is already being done in the offices,” commented Pau Gasol about the Blaugrana news.
He does not hide, however, that the season “has fallen short” of the expectations of a club like Barça, which “is always about winning titles.” “Taking into account the circumstances, it has been better than what has been said. Roger Grimau’s staff has done a good job. We have been in the fight for titles all year. We have not been able to win any. Unfortunately “Sport always has this added pressure and the club has decided to dispense with Roger’s services and look for an alternative that will hopefully provide performance,” he said.
As for the Spanish team, he believes that their chances of being in Paris 2024 are “high.” “We have a very competitive team, with high-level people. Led by a coach with a lot of experience who knows how to do things. The options and expectations are very high. I hope it turns out well, now we have to play and win,” He stated about the Valencia Pre-Olympic, which will be held from July 2 to 7 in La Fonteta.
“It is very important to focus on the Pre-Olympic, not to go further and understand the difficulty it has. It is complicated. In the hypothetical case that we all want, then there are 12 teams. They have options to get into the quarterfinals and there you already compete and try to continue advancing “The team has a lot of talent, a very cohesive group and they are well led,” he reiterated.
Pau Gasol and Santander presented this Tuesday at the Santander office on Passeig de Gràcia in Barcelona the twentieth edition of the Pau Gasol Academy by Santander, a campus that will take place in Barcelona from June 30 to July 6 at the facilities of La Salle Bonanova, CEM Mundet, Padre Damián and INEFC, the new campus facility for the Rising Stars modality.
This new in-person edition will bring together more than 450 participants of 24 different nationalities, thus achieving its historical participation record. The academy aims to become a European benchmark thanks to its work on the comprehensive training of the individual and top-level sports practice.
The campus celebrates 20 years of history and, to celebrate and pay tribute to this year’s Olympic spirit, they have organized the PGA Olympics, a special day of recreational-sports activities designed for all participants in the classic modality.
In addition, they have revealed that in this edition they will have very special visits, such as that of Felipe Reyes, former professional basketball player. They have also confirmed the participation of high-level coaches such as Anna Montañana, coach of CB Jairis, Jaume Ponsarnau, coach of Bilbao Basket and Phil Handy, assistant coach of the Los Angeles Lakers for several years.
“This edition is very special for me. We have been with this project for twenty years and I cannot be more proud of what we have achieved during these years of dedication to promoting basketball, values and healthy habits among the youngest,” commented Pau. Gasol about the academy.
Furthermore, he highlighted his satisfaction and gratitude for the great reception that the academy has had in this anniversary year. “I am very excited and grateful for the incredible reception this edition has had, reaching a historical record of participation,” he added.
The event was attended by the director of Media, Online Marketing, Sponsorships and Events of Banco Santander Spain, Felipe Martín, who highlighted the importance of sponsoring this event for the bank. “This sponsorship is a good example of Banco Santander’s mission to help companies and people progress; in this case, giving support and helping children to have careful sports training, an education focused on nutrition and promoting healthy habits. healthy with the help of a reference like Pau, with whom we share so many common values,” he said.