URU - Batista, the heart and soul of Uruguay
CARACAS (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Esteban Batista has been the best Uruguayan player for the last decade, maybe their best ever. Even though his team may not have a possible chance of going far into tournaments, he still shows up for his country, time after time. The 29-year-old knows his team faces a steep uphill battle to ...
CARACAS (FIBA Americas Championship/FIBA Basketball World Cup) - Esteban Batista has been the best Uruguayan player for the last decade, maybe their best ever. Even though his team may not have a possible chance of going far into tournaments, he still shows up for his country, time after time.
The 29-year-old knows his team faces a steep uphill battle to qualify for the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, yet he is full of hope at the 2013 FIBA Americas Championship taking place in 'El Poliedro' Coliseum in Caracas Venezuela.
Uruguay will face Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Brazil and Canada in the Qualifying Round. Realistically, their only chance of a win will be in their tournament opener against the Jamaicans on Saturday.
Batista has had a great career so far. After starting to play professionally at age 17 at the Welcome in Uruguay in 2001, his talent was so obvious, that by the time he was 19 he was already playing for Real Madrid in Spain, before being traded to Pozuelo Basketball Club in 2004.
Batista is the first Uruguayan to play in the NBA, having suited up for the Atlanta Hawks in 2005 before the Boston Celtics signed him in 2007. In recent years, he has been an established player in Europe. His last stop was with Efes Pilsen in Turkey and he plans to play in the same country, but with another club for the 2013-14 season.
"I still have the illusion to see if a miracle happens and we can shock a couple of teams in this FIBA Americas Championship," he said.
"The odds are against us, but nothing is impossible, there are four spots, so the hope is still alive.
"I think is an honor to play for your country, it is a patriotic obligation that comes from the heart, I will never say no to my national team, whether we had the right preparation, or not.
"I owe everything I am to my exposure in the national team and it’s a beautiful feeling," Batista added.
As well as being his team's best player, Batista is also a great ambassador to his fellow countrymen. He won't deny anyone a picture or an autograph, which is what makes him not only a great player, but more importantly, a great human being, a good citizen.
FIBA