The Cadete Femenino refines details for the start of the league regular season in 2021, and Irene is one of our stalwarts in the category. We get to know her more thoroughly, in our Interview of the Month.

How do you get involved with basketball, Irene?

I started a few years ago. I was enrolled in a dance academy and I switched to another with a different schedule than the previous one, so I had more days off than before. So many of my friends had already been playing basketball for a year so I decided to sign up and try. From that moment on I realized that I loved this sport and I have been playing since then.

When did you start playing at Torrejón Basketball Academy? For those who do not know you or have not seen you play on the court, how would you describe yourself as a player between your strengths and weaknesses?

I have  been playing for TBS for 4 years or so, this season would be my fifth year playing. I think I am a very versatile player. Within my team I am one of the tallest girls and that gives me many things when it comes to helping with rebounds or simply defending people who are "bigger" than all of us and helping the team with that. I am more about driving to the basket than shooting three-pointers or any other shot, since the shot is something that I must improve and I have been improving over the years.

The truth is that every time I feel like I have more stamina and that gives me more security on the court, because I know that I will not get tired so soon. I usually play either forward or guard, depending on the lineup. Every time I feel more sure of myself on the court.

Tell us, what do you like to do off the court, what hobbies do you have?

Besides playing basketball, I also love to dance and I go to dance school on days that I do not have basketball. Dancing is like another way of escape to do what I like and not think about anything else, I can express any feeling while dancing.

What does Torrejón de Ardoz, the city, and the club mean to you?

Of my family, I have been the only one who is from Torrejón, and I am proud to be from here. I think it is a "city" that over the years improves more and being from here makes me more proud. Being from this club, it is like she represents Torrejón and it is a way to show that we have incredible teams here and that we can defend this “city” well. I have not been in any other club, the only thing that fails me is that there are almost no womens teams, there are fewer and fewer and that saddens me because I think we can go very far.

Future goals in basketball?

Well, I see basketball as a hobby but nothing more. I think that in a few years I will no longer play because depending on what career or what I want to do, the time will be just right and I prefer to dedicate myself to other things and put basketball aside since it is my hobby.

2020 goes down in history as a very tough year, with a worldwide situation that to a greater or lesser extent affected a large part of humanity. How have they handled it at home, and you personally?

This year has been very hard for me and for my whole family, but within what is possible during confinement I have found myself more and I have realized that I did not know myself well enough. All this that is happening is very hard and many of the people do not realize what is happening and are not aware of anything. But, I hope that this year we do not decline so much and we can move on.

Tell us about the creativity it takes to train during a pandemic, confined to home ...

Well, you have to be very focused about things, that nothing is like before and you have to adapt as it is to all the measures or standards that you must comply with. You also have to become aware of many things and that during confinement, at least I have not stopped exercising so as not to lose the physical shape and that schedule that I had before doing sports.

Academically where you look; What do you want to study at college and why?

I am still not very clear about what I want to study. I know that when I start high school I will go to science and the truth is I would like to get into something related to medicine but I know I have to dedicate all my time and I am sure if I can do that, but hey, whatever I want to do I will go for it.

A piece of advice to the new generations of Torrejon players:

No matter what situation they are in, they will have to go for it and never give up. Work hard so you can get rewarded and never lose your heart. With perseverance and very hard work you can get what you want.