By Antonis Stroggylakis / astroggylakis@eurohoops.net
Jakarta, Indonesia – Spain big man Santi Aldama feels that becoming a stable part of the Memphis Grizzlies rotation last year better prepared him for his debut with the senior national team in the 2023 FIBA World Cup
“Working all year and playing important minutes and just staying ready. I think that was the key regarding my season with the Memphis Grizzlies,” Aldama said after the win over Brazil, asked by Eurohoops about how his season with the Grizzlies helped him on his way to the World Championship with Spain.
After spending a part of 2021-22 in the G-League, Saldama established himself at the Grizzlies next season. He played in 77 games, averaging 9.0 points and 4.8 rebounds over 21.8 minutes in the regular season.
Then the offseason came and the time for Aldama to get into World Cup mode.
“Then, I’ve been working the whole summer for this moment,” Aldama added. “I’m happy to be here with my teammates.”
“These teammates have been accustomed to some serious winning ways. Spain became world champion in 2019 and claimed the gold medal in the 2022 EuroBasket to continue an extremely successful tradition in international competitions this century.
“I think the winning part is secondary,” Aldama said. “Meaning, the culture here that’s really good. And I think that’s what makes this team a winning team. That’s what we have to built on. We work very hard every day, we have to continue doing that and let it talk through our game.”
Aldama helped Spain make the 2-0 in Group by routing the Brazilian side 96 – 78 to punch a ticket to the next phase of the World Cup. The 22-year-old player scored a team-high 18 points, grabbed four rebounds and was a fantastic +28 while on the floor, playing 21:47.
“I think it was a very physical game,” Aldama mentioned. “They are a very good team. We needed to win this game and they are tough to beat. we showed resiliency, playing hard and got the victory.”