MALAGA (Spain) - Izan Almansa will face a wide range of emotions going into the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2022: from the excitement of playing for the first time in a FIBA competition for Spain; to the hope of finally delivering a medal to his country in the event; and the pressure of expectations as the host nation.

I'm so excited!"

 "I am so excited. I think we have a great group, and I think we can do some great things. The team is so excited and we just want to start the World Cup," Almansa said.

Spain's chances of grabbing a podium spot in Malaga on July 10 rely heavily on Almansa, who gives the Iberians something they usually don't have in their youth teams: a strong, athletic inside force who can make things happen at both ends.

That skillset helped the Murcia native get an invitation to the recent Basketball Without Borders Europe camp in Milan, where Almansa showcased all the things he can do while learning some valuable lessons.

"I learned to sacrifice for the team," he said. "On defense, I learned to close out on everything and talk a lot. And off the court, to talk to everybody and make a lot of friends."

Almansa was on the extended list of players for Spain at the FIBA U16 European Challengers 2021 before the country had to pull out because of Covid-19 cases. Almansa then went to the United States to play on the Overtime Elite circuit for the 2021-22 season, so he was excited to be back in Europe at the BWB Europe camp, which included four other Spanish boys campers and two girls campers from Spain.

Spaniards at BWB Europe camp (from left) Ariadna Termis, David Barbera, Aday Mara, Sergio De Larrea,  Alvaro Folgueiras, Izan Almansa, Elena Buenavida

"I was so happy when they said I was coming here (to the BWB camp) and then even more when I learned that my teammates from the Spanish national team are coming too. I love European basketball so I love to be here," said Almansa, who was named as BWB Europe All-Star.

Almansa was challenged in the United States, especially by the physicality and athleticism of the players there.

"The competition was so different. It was so physical and it took a couple of months to adapt. But when you learn and figure how they work you start to love it and you don't want to leave," he said.

When asked what the biggest thing he learned in the United States was, Almansa said: "Everywhere the kids are more physical than you so you have to use your mind to get easy buckets. If you just go crazy, you won't get anything."

Almansa definitely will be aiming to receive some hardware around his neck on July 10 in Malaga - and help Spain finally break through and secure a medal following fourth place finishes in 2012, 2014 and 2016 and missing out on the tournament in 2018.

"We have a big responsibility because it's in our country. So we have to do our best for our country and fight. We want to win and we will do everything we can to do it," Almansa said.

The 6ft 9in (2.07m) power forward knows Spain have their advantages over other teams.

"Maybe we are not the most explosive or physical team, but we play using our mind and play together and we sacrifice for each other. And I think that's a good point for us," he said.

The dream in the end for Almansa is to have a medal around his neck when it's all said and done - and preferably the gold medal and Spain would finally get their title.

"It would be crazy. That is my dream."

He can only imagine the emotions he would be going through - and have gone through.

FIBA