USA/ESP - The enriching experience

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (Liga Endesa) - Some American players wear tired looks as they attempt to establish careers in European professional leagues but Benjamin Dewar isn't one of them.

A member of Obradoiro C.A.B. (Clube de Amigos do Baloncesto), otherwise known as Blusens Monbus, the Michigan native just loves playing the game and especially in Spain.

"It's beautiful," he said to FIBA.com.

"The quality of basketball is fantastic.

"The level of competition is great.

"It's elevated my game and given me a lot to look forward to every weekend."

He is, for the second year in a row, competing in the Liga Endesa.

After suiting up for Lucentum Alicante last season and eating paella beside the Mediterranean, Dewar joined Obradoiro in Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia in the northwest of Spain.

His residence is now less than 50 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.

"I think that's the exciting part for me," Dewar said.

"My family and I get to experience new cultures and different regions of Spain.

"It's incredible that in comparison to last year in Alicante we are now in Santiago - the difference in culture is incredible.

"It's fun to experience."

Well travelled

Dewar, who played his American college basketball at NCAA Division II Lake Superior State from 1999-2003, introduced himself to the old continent at the beginning of 2004 in Denmark with Team Sjaelland.

He then spent several seasons in France with Quimper, Orleans, ASVEL Villeurbanne and Le Mans.

Now 31, Dewar is a player with an extra bounce in his step.

Leaving America for Europe has been a life-enriching experience that he wouldn't trade for anything.

What he has discovered in Galicia is the passion for Obradoiro basketball.

This devotion the fans have for the club intensified for nearly two decades when they felt their team was wrongfully denied a place in the top flight.

They claimed after a promotion play-off game in 1990 that a player from Juver Murcia should not have been included in the line-up.

The claim was rejected by the sport's bosses in Spain, yet Obradoiro fought to have their top-flight status restored and it eventually was granted by the Spanish Supreme Court.

Obradoiro returned to the competition for the 2009-10 campaign.

If Obradoiro, who have won three of their first four games in the Liga Endesa this season, were to reach the play-offs, the fans would go nuts.

Dewar says it's way too early to talk about play-off basketball.

"There is a long way to go," he said.

"But to the fans, it (the club) means everything.

"The play-offs might mean more to the fans than it would to the players.

"That's how supportive they are."

The focus

What Dewar understands very well is that every week is going to be a battle for his team.

Each and every practice session, and every play in the course of every game, is important.

The concentration level has to be high because Blusens Monbus play in the toughest, most demanding of leagues.

"Any time you have to use your brain as much as more as your body, it becomes difficult," Dewar said.

"Some guys can do it, some guys can't.

"I think there are some leagues that are very good, but from top to bottom, Spain is probably the best."

He is optimistic about the rest of the season.

"I think we can be confident that we can compete with the best teams," he said.

"I watched this team a lot (last year) and knew a lot about them.

"This team seems a lot more cohesive and playing together and supportive and encouraging.

"I'm very positive that if we continue to be like that, we can do some things this year."

FIBA