Natural shooters, and then there is Rubén Escanciano.

The veteran member of the Basket Torrejón Senior National team for the VIPS League has already spent two seasons demonstrating his capabilities as a scoring specialist, specifically from the three-point line. Escanciano, based on his percentages and volume, has proven that he is not only at the top of the FBM (Madrid Basketball Federation) but also at the national level in the competition.

The forward is the star of the Interview of the Month on the academy website, and we get to know him better:

Where does Rubén Escanciano story with basketball begin at? Where did you play? Any anecdotes that have stood out or been funny over the years?

Well, first of all, thank you for the interview. I started playing basketball quite late; if my memory serves me right, I was a first-year cadet. Before that, I had never even touched a basketball, and as you can imagine, I was terrible; As a funny anecdote from that first year, I did not know how to shoot and I would just drive to the basket, but my steps were long strides, so I had to take them from three-point range because otherwise I would go past the basket (laughs).

That same summer I started working on my shooting and coordination, and as another anecdote, I learned to shoot by imitating Felipe Reyes, who, for those who do not know him, was not exactly a shooter, or at least not at the beginning of his career, but he was a very hard worker, and year after year he kept improving his shot even in his later years. In fact, he achieved a good shooting percentage at the end of his career, and that is what motivated me to use him as a role model.

Starting in my second year, I tried out for Real Madrid and was selected to play for their reserve team in Coslada. I played there for two years, then I was chosen to play for Rivas in the national league. I played for that club for a year, and then I took a break from serious basketball to play with friends for Wanders Velilla and later for Mejorada 2012, both teams in the regional league.

You have been playing at Torrejón Basketball Academy for a couple of years now. Why did you choose us and commit to this project, and what motivates you?

I did not choose Torrejón, to be honest. In fact, I never imagined playing here, not even in my wildest dreams. It was Agustín (Sánchez) who called me one summer, right after I had left my team and was looking for any team whose schedule I could coordinate with my family. He suggested I try out for the national team. My response was: "I do not have the skill level or the physical condition to play with you at that level." He insisted I try out, and I agreed, thinking that maybe I would find a regional team where I could fit in.

So, I did the tryouts, met Colo Zuttion, and they must have seen something in me. They offered me the chance to train full week, and I accepted, honestly, I could not quite believe it. And from then on, I have been on the first team.

The first year, I was amazed at the possibility of playing. The second, I tried to help the team given the circumstances that year, and this year, my third, I hope to help them get promoted. My motivation is simple: I love basketball, the discipline of daily work, and competing. This club is perfect in all three aspects.

Colo pushes us hard, and we compete at a high level every season. With that and my own high standards, I have more than enough motivation.

What do you do outside of basketball, and what are your hobbies? What do you have next in life?

I am self-employed. I run an academy in Mejorada del Campo called Academia Orion 2.0. There, we help students pass their courses at the primary, secondary, and high school levels. My main hobbies are board games, history, philosophy, and chess.

What does it mean to be considered one of the best long-range shooters in the entire Madrid region? Tell us how you developed such a reliable shot. What advice on shooting, decision-making, and improvement could you give to our readers?

Well, thank you for such kind words, but I am nowhere near that great a shooter. I am disciplined, and within the team system, I saw that the outside threat was absolutely essential, and ultimately, a player has to be smart to take advantage of opportunities. Once you have a clear objective, the rest is simple, though not easy: practice a lot and give it your all in training. That will make everything flow more smoothly in games.

I think the main advice readers should take is not to focus so much on one thing. Whether you make a basket or not is irrelevant. Points are important, but more important is the dynamic, and shooting when you have to, not when you feel like it.

If you create a three-point threat in transition and a teammate scores a layup, believe me, the coach will be thrilled to have you playing, even if you do not get many shots or score many points. And obviously, the more time you are on the court, the more opportunities you will have to score. But first and foremost, the team comes first.

What are your future goals in basketball? Would you like to stay involved in it?

My goals as a player are simple: to enjoy myself, and if I can play a year in what used to be the EBA league, that would be incredible. Two years ago, I would have laughed at anyone who told me I was good enough for the Primera Nacional league, and well, I think I am at least capable. I am curious to know if I could do it in EBA – Tercera FEB (third division) these days.

As for staying involved in the world of basketball, I do not think I will continue. To be able to compete at this level, I have spent two years training at the gym in the mornings and giving it my all in practices in the afternoons, in addition to running a business, taking care of my son, and making time for my partner. I get overwhelmed just by writing it down (laughs).

I think that when this is over, I will try to relax and make time for my current and future hobbies.

Any advice for the new generation of players from Torrejón?

The main advice is to really fight for the opportunities. I often see technically gifted players with incredible physical attributes at the club, and it saddens me that they rely solely on the coach willingness to play them. No, you have to force the coach to inevitably put you in.

There is only one way to do that: daily hard work. And that is the main problem. They often get caught up in the positive feedback and believe they deserve it when they do not. If you give your all in training and truly demonstrate, in real game situations, that your technical and physical qualities are top-notch, you will achieve your goal and you will play, regardless of your age.

If you expect a coach to play you because you send him a highlight reel, I am sorry, but you will only see a disciplined player on the court.