Veteran Arroyo as good as ever

PUERTO RICO (FIBA Basketball World Cup/Olympics) - Most basketball players have a moment in their careers they'll never forget.

For Carlos Arroyo of Puerto Rico, there have been many moments.

The 35-year-old, for starters, has fond memories of having some success in the NBA with the Utah Jazz.

In the international game, there is no doubt that his signature moment came in 2004.

That's when, soon after cutting open the United States with his passing and scoring and leading his national team to its most famous triumph, an opening day upset at the Athens Olympics, Arroyo immediately ran to the sidelines to be close to the fans and tugged on his jersey with both hands so that everyone could see the words Puerto Rico.

It didn't matter if you were a fan of the Boricuas or not. That celebration will live on forever.

Arroyo has since turned out for his national team, year after year, and helped them to other big wins.

He has always shown flair.

But there have been losses as well, especially at FIBA Basketball World Cups.

Other than his first World Cup, in 2002 in Indianapolis when Puerto Rico finished seventh, the teams that Arroyo has played for have floundered at the premier event.

In 2006 in Japan, 2010 in Turkey and this past summer in Spain, the Caribbean nation has not gotten out of the Group Phase.

Other than his national team experiences, Arroyo has enjoyed a solid professional career, playing in the NBA, and with European clubs like Maccabi Tel Aviv, Besiktas and currently, Galatasaray.

Anyone to have seen him play for Galatasaray in this season's Turkish Airlines Euroleague would draw just one conclusion: Arroyo's still got it!

In an overtime triumph against Crvena Zvedzda in Istanbul, Arroyo hit big shots late in the game to give Gala the victory.

Crucially on 18 December, with Galatasaray in danger of not advancing to the Top 16, Arroyo poured in 24 points to lead the team to victory over Olympiacos.

"I just love the game," he said to FIBA.com. 

"This team has given me a chance to be myself so I just create a motivation within myself."

I'm very passionate when it comes to playing, I love competing, winning. - Arroyo

If there has been a key to Arroyo's excellent form the past three seasons, other than his own desire and passion, then it has to be his club coach.

Ergin Ataman, who is also Turkey's national team boss, brought Arroyo to Besiktas when he was coaching the Istanbul club and liked his performances and overall attitude so much that he took him to Galatasaray when the Istanbul giants hired him.

Arroyo has flourished under Ataman. 

"I owe him a lot," he said. 

"I think he's the one who really gave me the opportunity to be myself, to come here and play my game. So I owe him a lot."

Arroyo is playing so well that Puerto Rican fans will be hoping he plays at next summer's FIBA Americas Championship and helps the team in its fight to reach the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

As it is, Arroyo doesn't know if he's worn the national team shirt for the last time.

"I haven't decided yet," he said. 

"I'll sit down with my family when the time comes. 

"But it's a huge honor for me to play for Puerto Rico. It's always a huge honor."

Because of their World Cup struggles, and the inability to make it back to the Olympics since Athens, some might think that Arroyo has unfinished business with the national team.

"Not really," he said. 

"I think I've done a lot with the Puerto Rican national team. 

"They have opened the door for me to come and play for many years. 

"It's been a huge honor, a long road with ups and downs, with different coaches and different staff. 

"But it's been great and I feel great for what I've done for Puerto Rico."

FIBA