Francis Alonso, an NCAA shooter for Spain: "It seemed like my bad luck wasn't going to end"

• Opinion: the rarity Francis Alonso

When he was a child, Francis Alonso (Málaga, 1996) was terrified of the Unicaja mascot.

It was not a trivial matter, since his father was

assistant

and he always fluttered with his brother through games and training sessions, enraptured by Carlos Cabezas or Berni Rodríguez.

Later, it was Paco, a former player, a man of the house, his turn to take the reins of the Malaga first team in ACB.

It was a short period and his replacement, in 2003, was the same Sergio Scariolo who can make his son debut with the senior team this afternoon (7.30pm, Be Mad), against Israel in a qualifying match for Eurobasket 2022.

«I always had a little eye looking at 'Chicui', it scared me.

It is a funny anecdote », laughs from Valencia the guard, perhaps the most fit shooter in national basketball, an outbreak at the age of 24 - he has

-, of a predestined boy, but who he chose an alternative path to the elite.

The NCAA route, increasingly explored and which has left a vital mark on Francis, although the sporting maturation took a little longer.

"I recommend it.

.

The opportunities and facilities that they give you to combine with the sport cannot be compared with what is here.

I achieved my career, a language in my pocket, contacts and friendships ... It has been the best experience of my life, ”recalls who left at 17 after being a reference in the Los Guindos quarry.

First to the 'Prep School' (Cushing Academy in Massachusetts), then to a humble University (North Carolina Greensboro) to which he was going to lead to feats never seen before, breaking the record of triples of the Spartans (357), of the which is the second highest all-time scorer (2,142 points, only behind Kyle Hines), and also in victories, and even playing the 'March Madness' for the third time in its history.

Five years later, with a

, it was time to return, a two-year contract with his Unicaja.

"Start from scratch, make a name for myself ...".

But not exactly with a red carpet under his feet: the professionalism slap was harsh last year, first yielded to Fuenlabrada.

«The injury right from the start made things very difficult, because of how the team was on the table.

I had no opportunities, it was a bad drink, a hard time, "he admits about his unprecedented months with Jota Cuspinera.

He left for Oviedo (LEB Oro), but the odyssey was not over, as the pandemic came quickly.

«It was a cluster.

It was like a Ferris wheel, it seemed that the bad luck was not going to end.

Oviedo gave me a lot of life [three brilliant games].

They helped me get back to enjoying basketball.

I returned to Malaga, I trained and it was the last straw, I felt like that ».

Well, when he was going to play the Final Phase of the ACB under the orders of Luis Casimiro, he tested positive for coronavirus and had to stay at home.

Months after that particular nightmare, including a makeover, Alonso gets all the triples of life.

She shines in Unicaja, exhibiting prodigious wrist, scoring

... And dreams like that of the national team are fulfilled: "It's how it is told. The positive vibes and the good vibes that are here are contagious. a special feeling ".

Alonso, during his time with the Spartans.

"Nothing that happened affected my work ethic, my discipline. Mentally I had lows, but always with the aim of improving. Having spent those bad moments now makes the reward come," congratulates the person who wears 10 at the back, as a parent.

Because the talent of Francis, a pure shooter of those who are in short supply, is no accident.

«

.

He emphasized shooting, technique.

He is a specialist.

Everything has a reason, that is his philosophy, ”he says, who lost his fear of the mascot by force, like this irruption in the ACB.

The day Unicaja won the Korac Cup (2001), Paco sat him on the bus with 'Chicui'.

And the fear was gone.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

• Fuenlabrada

• Valencia

• Malaga

• sports

Copa del Rey 2020 - 2021 All pairings of the first round of the Copa del Rey

ACB 2020 - 2021The inexplicable punishment to Beirán: a world champion isolated in Gran Canaria

Bullfighting PortraitsEnrique Cerezo: "All Spain is subsidized except the bulls"

See links of interest

• Last minute

• Spanish translator

• Programming

• Work calendar

• Movies Today

• Topics

• Fenerbahce Istanbul - Valencia Basket

• Alcorcón - Girona

• VfL Wolfsburg - SV Werder Bremen

• Asvel Villeurbanne - Barça

• Real Valladolid - Raise