7 Alba TORRENS (Spain)
26/01/2015
News
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Torrens claims FIBA Europe Women's Player of Year award

MUNICH (FIBA World Championship for Women/EuroBasket Women 2015) - Imagine what it must feel like to continually make it to the big games and play for championships.

Alba Torrens of Spain knows, because she does it all the time.

She did it as a junior player with Spain, and she continues to do it now.

Just look at her 2014.

Fully recovered from the serious knee injury that sidelined her for most of 2012, Torrens helped give Galatasaray one of their proudest moments by leading them to glory at the 2014 EuroLeague Women Final Eight.

She was named Most Valuable Player of the event.

Torrens, the player who beats opponents off the dribble, in transition or from long range, next provided much of the firepower for Galatasaray as they marched to the domestic title, defeating rivals Fenerbahce in the TKBL Finals. 3-2.

Then, the Binissalem-born guard spearheaded her country's run to the Final of the FIBA World Championship for Women in Turkey and was named to the All-Star Five with teammate Sancho Lyttle, Americans Maya Moore and Brittney Griner and Australian Penny Taylor.

You know where this is going, right?

On Monday, 2014 got even better for Torrens.

The 25-year-old was recognized for her role in all of those achievements when she was named as the FIBA Europe Women's Player of the Year, an honor she also won in 2011.

When she finishes playing the sport, something that is unlikely to happen for a very, very long time, Torrens is going to have a real problem with space in her home.

She continues to pick up the hardware, be it trophies for team success or individual accolades.

One of the top players in the game, Torrens is nowhere near satisfied with her career so far.

She has plenty of unfinished business and specifically with the national team.

Having made the all-tournament team when Spain finally captured the EuroBasket Women crown for the first time in 2013, Torrens and her teammates envisioned themselves reaching the top of the podium in Turkey.

Looking back, they had a wonderful opportunity to achieve that aim as they went unbeaten en route to the Final.

It marked the first time that Spain had made it to the title game of the event, but they did not capitalize.

Instead, the United States stormed out to a big early lead and beat Spain, 77-64.

At first, the feeling of coming up second best and not really playing anywhere near their best stung the Spanish players.

But they regrouped.

Torrens, despite not completing the mission, drew encouragement from the experience.

"We see this as historic, something that is really great," she said.

"This medal tastes of 'team' - the word of this championship."

And really, Spain did play terrific basketball in Turkey.

They deserved to get to the Final. To do that for the first time was special.

Torrens then said the medal will serve as motivation for her and her Spain teammates to continue working hard in order to do good things.

Having made her bow at the 2008 Olympics, a failure at the EuroBasket Women 2011 in Poland that prevented Spain from playing at the London Games has made Torrens appreciate that to meet objectives, a person or a team must go step by step.

She desperately wants to be on the plane for Rio de Janeiro in 2016, when the Olympics are held.

To do that, though, Torrens and Spain have to remain humble and respect all before them.

At each championship, we begin from zero and go game by game. We must build a positive trajectory. - Torrens

That means this year, when they play at the EuroBasket Women in Sopron, Hungary, Spain have to be focused and concentrated from the start and never look too far ahead.

There simply are no givens. 

At least now, Torrens has the benefit of experience.

That should keep her on her toes.

Spain should be a force again this year.

If Torrens stays healthy and continues to improve, the sky would appear to be the limit for her and her teammates.

FIBA