Age is no barrier for Lopez

GIRONA (2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship) - Iho Lopez is undaunted at the prospect of being the youngest player on the Spain roster at the FIBA U19 Women's World Championship.

The forward is building a reputation for her rapidly burgeoning game and with the personality to match, Lopez is ready to show she can stand toe-to-toe with anything that is thrown at her in Chekov and Vidnoe.

After all, she did play at last U18 European Championship Women and that came hot on the heels of appearing in the FIBA U17 Women's World Championship, where Spain dazzled and almost upset the USA in the Final.

"I can't go [to Russia] thinking about how I'm the youngest on the team - I can only go thinking that I'm part of the team like anyone else," declared Lopez.

"It's not exactly going to be the first time that I will be playing with the team and we already know the way that we play for each other.

"Last year was amazing in Pilsen and especially when we played against Czech Republic in the Semi-Final with an arena full of people all shouting - we loved that atmosphere.

"I also had so much fun away from the court and I enjoyed each moment I had with the team."

It isn't surprising that Lopez enjoyed the team's run to the brink of a historic title at the event.

Much of it was fuelled by her fellow 1997-born starlet Angela Salvadores whose 40-point performance in the Final is now enshrined in international youth basketball folklore.

"I just wanted her to keep going and never give up and she did it," said Lopez approvingly.

"She is just amazing and I love the way she plays.

"The ability that she has to see the game and the court is absolutely incredible."

Anyone around the Spanish camp will have seen that Lopez certainly stands out. Not only for her play in the paint, but for her occasional flamboyance which was witnessed last year in the form of some particularly interesting thick-rimmed, white sunglasses.

"Ha, ha, I'm not going to rock them again this year,” laughed Lopez.

Very much an engaging character who likes to have fun, Lopez is also making sure she works tirelessly to improve.

She had the honour of playing a handful of minutes last season with Spar Citylift Girona, en-route to the club landing their maiden Liga Femenina title.

"I learned so much," confirmed Lopez.

"But the most important thing that they taught me, was how I need to see things happening on the court faster and move more quickly in response to it."

Lopez is also following EuroBasket Women 2015 and no doubt hoping that one day she will be able to play at the event.

She is also thrilled to be able to take inspiration from not a veteran - but someone who is only a few years older than herself.

"My favourite player at the team is Leticia Romero," revealed Lopez.

"Maybe she is not playing too much, but when she does, she is always ready to go onto the court and isn't afraid to fail.

"She keeps going and makes magic with her way of playing."

At the 2015 FIBA U19 Women's World Championship, Lopez and Spain will compete in Group B against China, Egypt and USA.

FIBA