Bronze Medal for Guatemala at FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships 2016

What an exciting post to write this is. Not only I am excited about the first ever world event Medal for Guatemala on Basketball but I am personally thrilled about Nathaly Pinelo since she is Cooper's (my youngest son) cousin, plus if you ever meet her you will agree that she is amazing not only as a player but also as a person. She is a team player, strong yet sweet, perseverant but patient, humble yet ambitious. 

So here is the story. Guatemala a recently participated at the FIBA 3x3 U18 World Championships 2016 in Astana, Kasakhastan.

The Delegation leaving towards a land far far away!

The first day of the competition Nathaly participated at the individual skill contest, qualifying to finals ranked 4 amongst competitors of 18 countries (Germany, Andorra, Spain, France, Netherlands, New Zealand, Hungary, Egypt, Poland, Turkey, Guatemala, Israel, Tunisia, Italy, Venezuela, Czech Republic, USA, China)

Here is the video for the qualifying round




They participated as a team on the subsequent days with less success (you can't teach tall). On Friday came the finals for the skills competition. Here is the video when she  wins the bronze medal I get chills listening to the commentator mentioning her name and saying Guatemala...!

On Monday night we went to the airport to welcome Nathaly and the delegation. They came at 11pm and were received by a member of the board of  the national sports authority CDAG, Erick Acevedo and the President´s sports commissioner Gonzalo Romero.  

The moment they arrive

Nathaly at airport being interviewed by local channels

The next day three of the girls traveled back to their home town Cobán Alta Verapaz, where they were welcomed with great enthusiasm by their fans, friends, family and also the local authorities. The mayor of the city gave them a special recognition and put Nathaly's picture and story on the hall of fame of the city.

The Basquetball Asociation of Cobán definitely is doing something right, congratulations the them too!