SAN SALVADOR (El Salvador) - Hillary Martínez was born on April 12, 1997 in El Salvador; she’s 22 years old today and has just concluded a four-year enriching experiencing in Puerto Rican college basketball. She was the first player to debut at 15 years of age in El Salvador's national team. She wore her nation’s colors in FIBA Americas Championships, Centrobasket Championships, Juegos Bolivarianos and COCABA Championships; ever since she started in youth categories up to adult categories; and then achieved one of her dreams: getting a scholarship to play and study at University of Puerto Rico.

She was raised and prepared thinking about her athletic career; ever since she was a young girl, she was accompanied by her parents to play in mini basketball and school categories and participated in national teams since she was 12 — and she’s already reached the senior national team. She was the first underage player to be a part of the women's national team in the 2012 Centrobasket in the municipality of Morovis, Puerto Rico.

“I debuted in my country’s national team when I was very young; at the time I couldn't probably understand many things that happened around me. I think that making a debut at such a young age has helped me mature a lot as a player when I go out to the court, and because I know what to do in the key moments of the game. I try to be a leader in my teams both in and out of the court,” said Hillary to fiba.basketball.

The Salvadorian began her career in her country’s national team at the 2011 U-17 COCABA Championship in Alajuela, Costa Rica, when she was 14 years old. At the 2012 Centrobasket in Puerto Rico, she officially debuted with the national team; in that same year she played another U-16 COCABA Tournament (at Tegucigalpa, Honduras); and in 2013 she participated in the U-17 Centrobasket in her country; and also was part of the Bolivarian Games in Trujillo, Peru. In 2014 she was called for the U-18 FIBA Americas Championship in Colorado Springs, USA, and then played another Centrobasket, at 17, with the national team, in Monterrey, Mexico. That same year the Central American and Caribbean Games in Veracruz, Mexico, took place; which was the last tournament she played with El Salvador. After these last games, she couldn’t participate in any national team because to her commitments with the University.

“I've been representing El Salvador in different categories ever since I was 11. One of the moments that have left their mark was the 2013 U-17 Centrobasket, when we were able to defeat Puerto Rico to move on to the World Cup qualifying rounds. This was a historic feat, because no other national team had achieved it before,” she stated.

Studious, with her family’s support and their backing for her to perform well both in the athletic and academic spheres, she decided to apply for a scholarship in Puerto Rico after so many years in her country’s national team. She got it and was able to advance her college and athletic career at the same time.

She currently studies Chemical Engineering and she recently ended a four-year period with the University of Puerto Rico in Mayagüez’s female team, commonly known as Las Juanas, where she won two gold medals, one silver and one bronze throughout these years in Puerto Rico’s Inter-University Athletic League’s tournament (LAI, for its Spanish acronym).

“I'm grateful to God because I've been able to play and study in Puerto Rico. Each year is a new lesson and experience for my future. There were achievements in different years, and different experiences. I’ve grown as a person, as an athlete,” the basketball player said.

Hillary celebrated her most recent title as MVP, after scoring 27 points in the last game, and in April concluded her career at the LAI.

“I came to Puerto Rico thanks to Sofía López, a player from Guatemala that studies here and we had faced each other with our national teams. University of Puerto Rico seemed perfect, and I wanted to study and play at the same time. Thanks to Sofía I contacted the University's basketball coach and in 2015 I came to try-out. They ran trials to see my play and see if I could qualify for the team. I arrived in August, and I had to play for 4 years, during which I achieved two gold medals, one silver and one bronze. I retire with a great sense of gratitude to God, the University, the coach and the staff for opening the doors for me in Puerto Rico and help me improve my present while thinking about my future,” she added.

Because she was the best scorer for the El Salvador national team in tournaments such as Centrobasket and the 2014 Central American and Caribbean Games, Hillary wants the selection process to reinitiate so that she can represent her country in the 2021 Central American Games. Her averages in youth national teams are 18.5 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists; meanwhile, for the senior national teams, she registers 11 points, 5 rebounds and 1.9 in assists.

“I would like to participate again and reclaim my role with the national team. What better way to do so than in a tournament that will take place in my country?” said the Salvadorian.

“Thanks to the several national teams I've been in since I was very young, I’ve lived diverse experiences, and had many coaches. Everything taught me something, something I always take with me when the time comes to play, and when thinking about the future both in and out of the court,” she added.

In 2016, a year after she arrived at Puerto Rico, she was recognized with a prize that named her Rookie of the Year in Puerto Rican basketball, an accolade that led her to believe that she was able to achieve what she wanted and more. Today, she continues to study and dream about defending once again her nation's colors.

FIBA