MONTEVIDEO (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) - Uruguay were not able to give the greatest surprise of the day, and was finally beat 74-66 by the United States in a game that was competitive from start to finish. The match’s outstanding Charrúa was Esteban Batista who, by the way, knows how to face American basketball, since he has the honor of being —to this day— the only Uruguayan to have reached the NBA. This fact allows us to begin a great story starred by the Uruguayan center.

Everything seemed to be calm as usual in one of his daily transits in public transportation. The young Esteban was en route to Montevideo from Playa Pascual (30 kilometers away from the Uruguayan capital). Of course, although he was only 16-years old back in the long-gone year 2000, his 6’6” height caught the attention of several passengers.

At the time, Batista — like every Uruguayan—was a passionate soccer fan. However, his destiny in sports took another route. Although he caught his first rebounds at the Olivol Mundial Club, that bus trip would detour him to another establishment. In that day’s journey, a curious passenger invited him to train at the Welcome Athletic Club. He is also a great main character in this story.

Esteban has a special place in his heart for that passenger: “The man’s last name was Valverde and he sold lottery tickets near the Welcome Athletic Club. Of course, he was also a fan. I think that he helped me win the lottery, so to speak. If it weren't for him, my story would most certainly be different. Sometimes destiny, luck, or people that cross paths with you at the right place and at the right time create the conditions for things to happen as they happened to me. I’ll always be grateful for his insistence that I change teams.”

The sporting club’s doors opened for the giant rookie, who at that moment couldn't realize that he was starting a special story within the rich tradition of Uruguayan basketball.

Destiny had plans for then teenager Esteban to cross paths with Óscar Moglia, who at the time was a player and inherited the love for the Welcome Athletic Club from his father —an Uruguayan basketball legend. A special friendship was also born there. A brotherly relationship, but perhaps even a father and son bond. They are partners that share a link that remains strong to this day.

A year after that bus ride, he debuted in the first division and everything started to happen fast. Of course, it was the result of an enormous sacrifice and a lot of work for improvement. Without a doubt, he gave it all. Only two seasons later, his next journey wasn't in public transportation, but in a plain to Spain, where he joined the stellar Real Madrid team.

There he started a new story that would also contain surprising chapters. In 2003, he debuted with the senior National Team and, without even realizing it, he became a key factor in the generational rebuilding of the time. It was in 2005, with Uruguay's jersey, that he gave a great historic leap. The FIBA Americas Championship that took place in Santo Domingo was all his. The door that now was opening was full of spotlights, camera flashes, glamour and all a basketball player dreams of —getting to the NBA.

And so, on September 12, 2005, he sealed his pact with the Atlanta Hawks, thus becoming the first and only Uruguayan that has reached the best basketball league in the planet. What happened next is well known: Israel, Russia, Greece, Turkey, Argentina, Italy and China were some of the destinations where Esteban knew how to shine. A special chapter was written at the Italian nation, where he was crowned as champion on two occasions (in Milan and Venice).

A few days before turning 34 —and while he played the FIBA AmeriCup in his country— Batista made the decision of going on another trip, but this time back home; his home. After 13 seasons abroad, he accomplished the dream of thousands of his fans: seeing him play again in his beloved Welcome Athletic Club with the number 15 on his back.

The doors of his home opened once again just like they did back in 2000, now to a club that awaited to learn from him and know much more. Esteban returned home. Home sweet home. The story now continues, and his talent is still strong, just like that bus passenger predicted in that journey that Esteban took with him —destined for glory.

FIBA