MADRID, 19 (EUROPA PRESS)
Spanish international Iyana Martín has stated that 2025 has been "an incredible year," in which she made her Euroleague debut and won a silver medal at the Eurobasket with the national team, but she is aware that she has "not" done "anything yet" and that she must "work every day" to achieve her goals.
"This has been an incredible year; a year ago, I couldn't have imagined making my debut or playing in the Euroleague or the Queen's Cup. It's an honor and a dream," she said upon arriving at the 6th Spanish Basketball Gala at the Hipódromo de la Zarzuela in Madrid, where she was honored as the Young Player with the Most Future.
The Perfumerías Avenida point guard thanked her family and teammates on the Salamanca team for the award, as well as the coaches who have "given her the confidence" to be herself "on the court." "I'm very young and I still have a lot left to do. What they always tell me at home is that I have to work every day, because I haven't done anything yet," she expressed.
For next season, she hopes to "enjoy basketball a lot" and "win a title," after a year in which she debuted with the senior team and won silver at the Eurobasket. "At the time, it was tough for the team because I think they both deserved it, and we had a spectacular championship. It hurt a lot, but when you look back, very few people believed in what we could do. We were a new group, very young players, and we are very proud," she explained.
All of this in a tournament where she was even hospitalized. "It was very hard; I was in the hospital for five days. It was my first Eurobasket, I'd been dreaming about it since I was little, and it was a very difficult moment. But I also realized all the people behind me, the support of my teammates, the staff... everyone came to see me in the hospital. I wasn't at my best, but I gave everything I had to cheer on my teammates," she said.
Now, she hopes the men's national team can also perform well at the continental event. "I hope they put together a good group, a good team, which in the end is what saved us and what got us there. I hope they enjoy themselves and work hard, because I'm sure everything will come together," she emphasized.
AINA AYUSO: "WHEN YOU ENJOY IT IS WHEN YOU PLAY WELL"
Meanwhile, fellow international Aina Ayuso was named Best National Player. "I'm very grateful, because being here after such a wonderful year for me is incredible. I want to thank my teammates, my coaches, and the people who support me," she said.
"I want to keep working, growing, and enjoying myself, because when you're enjoying yourself, you're playing well. I want to keep working day in and day out, which is what makes me perform well in the future. I hope to get my team playing well, which is always my biggest goal and my greatest satisfaction. And I also want to keep wanting to play well, growing, and winning, which is the most important thing," he continued.
MAITE CAZORLA: "I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK ON THE TRACK"
At the gala, USK Prague point guard Maite Cazorla was also recognized as the Best National Player in international competition. "I ended up winning the Euroleague, not getting many minutes due to the injury, but I'm very happy and grateful to be starting," she said, referring to the cartilage injury in her right knee that prevented her from competing in the Eurobasket.
In this regard, she explained how her recovery is going. "I'm doing very well. It's been two months since my surgery. I'm being very patient, working, and eager to get back on the court. I don't know when, but I'm calm," she said, before thanking the FEB for the recognition of the players abroad. "I think it's very important to give visibility to these players. I hope those who have to go abroad do very well, keep working, and be patient," she concluded.
