Colorado University Athletics
Regardless of Finish, Escalera's Trip To Africa Rewarding
July 29, 2005 | Women's Basketball
Colorado sophomore guard Yari Escalera and the Puerto Rico junior national team finished in 10th place at the recent FIBA Women's U19 World Championship in Tunisia, Africa. The Puerto Rican contingent, the country's first representative in a women's world championship, finished 2-5 overall defeating Tunisia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Escalera averaged 10.9 points over the seven games and ranked ninth among the entire tournament field in free-throw percentage at .714 (15x21). Escalera writes of her experiences overseas this summer while gearing up to return to Boulder for her second season with the Buffaloes:
I just got back to Puerto Rico last night (July 27), and I'm just so happy to be back from a long 27 days out of my two families CU and Puerto Rico. All of the trip was great, we started in Trinidad and we won that Caribbean Tournament (Escalera was named to the All-Tournament team in Trinidad). We played seven games and then we traveled to Spain and then Africa.
The World Games were something different. Every team had a different style of game, like Korea and Russia. We got 10th place so I'm kind of sad, but it was the reality that we don't have big players in the post and others things. No matter what, I tried to do my best for my national team and I'm really proud to be there helping my country. Sometimes I was feeling a lot of pressure, but it was fun and it really helped me to know that where I was -- I was competing vs. the best. It was good to put my level against the best.
It was great to see different countries like Spain and Africa. The language was different, the people, the food, everything. I got to touch a camel in Africa that was amazing and it was scary too. I had a lot of good games in Trinidad and Africa. To be honest, in the middle of the Africa tournament my legs and arms where so tired and I started missing shots. It probably was mental like coach (Ceal) Barry said. That a reason why I think that every single game and experience from these 27 days are going to help me a lot in my last three years at CU.
I really give thanks to my CU teammates, because I probably could not "up" my level if I was not at CU during my freshman year.
Here all my family is really proud of all what I did during the trip and things happen for a reason.. Now I need to rest and sleep a lot so I can be ready to be back to my second family and new coaches at CU. I know that they want to start working with my game and the team, and I'll be ready for that. I just want to say thanks to CU fans for following me during my trip and thanks for the support that you always give to me. Now is going to be the beginning of a new season at CU.
Thanks
Yari
