Colom the biggest winner in Spain's qualification for China 2019

SAN CRISTOBAL DE LA LAGUNA (FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 European Qualifiers) - Quino Colom was quick to deflect the attention from him in Spain’s successful passage to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019. But if there was a single biggest winner from Spain’s European Qualifiers campaign then it was the 30-year-old point guard from Andorra.

Colom is one of three players who has played in all 10 of Spain’s Qualifiers and he leads the team in scoring with 14.4 points and assists with 4.8 to go with 2.9 rebounds. All this in his first time with the senior national team after never getting a chance to play for Spain because of a long list of top-class point guards including Ricky Rubio, Jose Calderon, Sergio Llull, Sergio Rodriguez, Guillem Vives, Victor Sada and Raul Lopez. 

Quino Colom has shined in his first chance to play for Spain - getting the European powers to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019.

"We've reached the maximum goal: we will be in China and we are very happy for what we’ve managed to do as a team," said Colom, who was born in Andorra La Vella and played for Spain in the youth ranks, helping the team finish third at the FIBA U18 European Championship 2006 and FIBA U20 European Championship 2008 and also appearing at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2007. "Today, more than ever, it’s not about me or any other individual, it’s about this team, the players we are and how well we have performed on the court, off the court, at practice, helping in many ways.”

But now that Spain are China-bound, it’s hard not to focus on the 6ft 2in (1.88m) playmaker, who turned 30 on November 1. Colom was given the reins to the team by Spain head coach Scariolo from the very beginning - even though the coach himself admitted it was a risk.

“SCARIOLO CALLED ME TO THE PRE-CAMP. WE TALKED. HE EXPLAINED THE WINDOWS AND I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN AVAILABLE WITHOUT DOUBT. IT'S AN HONOR AND I AM PROUD TO BE HERE.”- Colom

"I took a risk. Last summer I said to him no matter what is going to happen you're going to be the starter of this team," Scariolo said after the first window nearly a year ago. "I felt that was the right way to manage the situation. Quim is great player, a top level point guard. He's a little bit late to the top rankings of European point guards but I felt he was ready for this."

Looking back at the first training camp in Benahavis one and a half years ago, Colom said: "Scariolo called me to the pre-camp. We talked. He explained the windows and I have always been available without doubt. It’s an honor and I am proud to be here."

Colom averaged 20.0 points, 6.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds in the first window and never slowed down - even despite switching clubs from Unics Kazan in Russia to Bahcesehir in Turkey during the off-season.

"You fight to be on top, always. There’s lot of good rivalry because there are many players in each spot," Colom said. "I’m proud of my job and what I have done, with my good or bad decisions. And I am happy to have been able to show my basketball to all of Spain."

Colom also hopes to be one of those playing in red and yellow when the lights are brightest.

“WITH ALL THESE WINDOWS AND GAMES I'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO PROVE MYSELF AND SHOW MY BASKETBALL TO MANY FANS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO SEE.”- Colom

"I hope in the future I can play in a big tournament and compete for a medal, which would be amazing," Colom said after the first window.

Fast forward a year and Colom believes he has shown what he can do.

"With all these windows and games I’ve had the chance to prove myself and show my basketball to many fans who might not have had the chance to see," he said.

Just as important though for Colom is that he helped Spain build what he called a “family” in the new format.

Quino Colom (left in photo) has proven to Sergio Scariolo that it was worth it to take a risk on him.

"The word that better describes what we have experienced is ‘family, or group or team if you want. It’s been tremendous. It's been a breath of fresh air and for many of us the windows have turned out great," Colom said.

Spain still have two more games in the Qualifiers - at Latvia on February 22, 2019 and at home versus Turkey on February 25. That will be Spain’s chance to lock up first place in Group I - and Colom’s last opportunity to plead his case for China 2019, and make Sergio Scariolo’s risk from more than a year ago look like a stroke of brilliance.

FIBA