Alex Madrid / info@eurohoops.net
Iberostar Tenerife entered the history books of Basketball Champions League last season. They completed a wondrous year winning the first edition of the competition. That was a step forward for the club, which acquired international recognition. But for one of Tenerife’s important members, the season finished with a bitter aftertaste.
Last December, the “aurinegros” were facing UCAM Murcia in the Spanish League. With less than a minute left to end the game, Javier Beirán career changed. That morning the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee suffered a partially torn.
“I know I’m going to find a way out and that I’m going to be a better player, this is very clear in my mind“, he said one day after the injury.
ACL injuries are common in basketball, but they are also the most feared. Javier Beirán underwent early surgery before starting his eight months of rehabilitation. While Tenerife reaped successes, the forward saw them from the stands. He was no longer part of the team on the court. Beirán got used to suffering. That was his new role. “You play a collective sport your entire life and suddenly you go to an individual job: yourself, the gym, the physio… It’s complicated”.
Día 19: Ganando grados de flexión desde el principio.
Hoy estaré con el equipo desde el hospital. ¡Vamos Canarias, a por la décima! pic.twitter.com/JF8fpsJgr3— Javier Beirán (@jbeiran33) December 30, 2016
Javier Beirán, who started playing basketball in the youth squads of Real Madrid, isn’t a conventional player. Graduated in business administration and also a journalism student he has one of the most restless minds in the Champions League. Writer, poetry and music lover, amateur photographer…
His father is a fundamental part of his formation. José Manuel Beirán is today a renowned sports psychologist after been part of the Spanish team that won a silver olympic medal in Los Angeles 84.
He was prepared in case something went wrong…
The desired return
After nine months without playing because of the injury, the forward finally enjoyed minutes on the floor. But that preseason game was a minor prize.
Tenerife held once again a major tournament. The hosts welcomed Guaros de Lara, Liga de las Américas champions and this time, Javi was part of the team that raised the Intercontinental Cup. A title that he could really celebrate with his teammates.
After five games in 2017-2018 Basketball Champions League, Beirán is averaging 7,5 points, 5 rebounds and 2,6 assists -close to his numbers from last season- while sharing minutes with Tenerife’s new acquisition Mateusz Ponitka.
The “madrileño” used to be an offensive player in his early years in Estudiantes. Now he is 30, he has grown up and developed his game. Beirán can also score but he is mainly a versatile player.His defense and his improvement in getting rebounds made him an asset in every aspect of the game.
After being close to the Spanish team on numberless occasions, Beirán’s moment finally arrived. Spanish National Team coach Sergio Scariolo included him on the list of 24 that will compete for a place in the World Cup.
After nine months of suffering, Javier Beirán has been rewarded.