The Councillor for Sports of Santa Cruz City Council, Alicia Cebrián, presented this morning the U20 Women’s Tournament, which will be held on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of July at the Quico Cabrera Pavilion in the capital, featuring Spain, France, Germany, and a Tenerife selection. This event will serve as preparation for Spain ahead of the U20 European Championship taking place in Portugal from the 2nd to the 8th of August.
Also present at the event were the Sports Councillor of Tenerife Cabildo, Yolanda Moliné; the President of the Canary Basketball Federation, Carlos Olano; the President of the Insular Basketball Federation, Rafael González; and the CEO of IDECO, Manuel Gómez.
Recognition
As announced by Rafael González, the President of the Insular Basketball Federation, the tournament will now be called the “Paco Apeles” International U20 Women’s Tournament, in recognition of the veteran coach who was the founder and coach of Isla de Tenerife, national team assistant, and technical director of the Insular Basketball Federation of Tenerife, who was also present at the event.
“For Santa Cruz, it is a pride to host a tournament of this level, where we can closely watch the future stars of national women’s basketball,” emphasised Councillor Alicia Cebrián, who also praised the joint effort of all the institutions to bring high-level sporting events to the city. “We continue to invest in grassroots sport and in showcasing female talent,” she added.
Promotion of Basketball on the Island
She also noted that “hosting this tournament in Santa Cruz not only reinforces Santa Cruz and the island’s positioning as a reference sports destination but also promotes the development of women’s basketball and grassroots sports.” Furthermore, she added that “the presence of high-level teams provides a unique opportunity for the local audience and the media by gathering future stars of continental basketball in one setting, with free admission.”
For her part, the Sports Councillor of the Cabildo, Yolanda Moliné, stated that “the presence of the U20 team on the island further highlights Tenerife’s commitment to women’s basketball, a sport that is intensely experienced on the island.”
Towards the European Championship
Moliné explained that this tournament, supported by the Cabildo through the public company Ideco, will allow players to prepare in “the best conditions” for the upcoming European Championship, which will be held in early August in the Portuguese city of Matosinhos. “I encourage all Tenerfeños to witness the potential of our U20 team live and to participate in the celebration of women’s basketball on our island,” the councillor stated.
The tournament will serve as preparation for the Women’s EuroBasket U20, which will take place from the 2nd to the 10th of August in Matosinhos (Portugal) and will include first-level international teams. The Spanish U20 Women’s Team, led by Isaac Fernández, has announced an initial call-up of 15 players, including notable names like Laia Conesa (Kansas), Marta Alsina (Washington State), and Cristina Sánchez (Arkansas). The team arrives with the challenge of further expanding its accolades, having dominated the historical European medal table with 9 golds, 4 silvers, and 1 bronze.
3×3 Clinic
Alongside the tournament, on the 12th of June, the Insular Basketball Federation of Tenerife (FIBT) will hold a 3×3 basketball training clinic, open to players, coaches, and referees interested in this format, aimed at promoting the technical and tactical development of basketball on the island. This training event will complement the main tournament, with complete information available on the FIBT website.
The clinic features two notable figures in 3×3 basketball, medalists from the recent Paris 2024 Olympic Games, such as Sandra Ygueravide, an absolute international in 3×3 and 5×5, Olympic medallist, and European champion and Eurocup winner with Nadezhda Orenburg; and Juana Camilion, a professional 3×3 player, also an Olympic medallist and winner of the 2023 European Cup. This clinic will enhance the training aspect of the tournament, focusing on technique, tactics, and competition in the 3×3 format, targeting minibasket, child, cadet, and junior categories.
