Ana Belén Álvaro | |
Position: | Point guard |
Height Cm: | 168 |
League: | Spanish League |
Birth Date: | April 24, 1969 |
Birth Place: | Cuenca |
Nationality: | Spanish |
Career Start: | 1984 |
Career End: | 2002 |
Highlights: |
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Years1: | 1984-1986 |
Team1: | Mecalux Hospitalet |
Years2: | 1986-1988 |
Team2: | Natural Cusí |
Years3: | 1988-1989 |
Team3: | Caja Toledo |
Years4: | 1989-1992 |
Team4: | BEX Banco Exterior |
Years5: | 1992-1996 |
Team5: | Dorna Godella / Costa Naranja |
Years6: | 1996-1997 |
Team6: | Pool Getafe |
Years7: | 1998-2001 |
Team7: | Valenciennes Olympic |
Years8: | 2001-2002 |
Team8: | Esportiu Universitari |
Ana Belén Álvaro Bascuñana (born April 24, 1969) is a former Spanish basketball player, representing Spain from 1988 to 2002 and winning a gold medal at the 1993 European Championship. At club level, she won the 1993 FIBA European Champions Cup and 6 Liga Femenina titles.[1] [2] [3]
After playing in her childhood club at Mollet del Vallès, she went to Hospitalet to play for Mecalux in 1984, thus making her debut in Liga Femenina at 15. After Mecalux resigned its position in the top tier, she played for Natural Cusí in nearby El Masnou, where she spent two seasons. As one of the most promising young players of her time, she got transferred to the Caja Toledo - BEX Banco Exterior project, with other young Spanish prospects in order to prepare for the 1992 Summer Olympics. After the Olympic tournament, she won back-to-back leagues with Dorna Godella and Pool Getafe. With Dorna Godella she went to win the 1992-93 FIBA European Champions Cup. She had another successful spell at French club Union Sportive Valenciennes Olympic, where she won one French league, one French cup and became runner-up of the 2000-2001 Euroleague.[4]
She made her debut with Spain women's national basketball team at the age of 19. She played with the senior team for 14 years, from 1988 to 2002, with a total of 204 caps and 8.5 PPG. She participated in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, 2 World Championships and in three European Championships:
She became assistant coach in the French club St. Amaund Leseau in 2003. Back in Spain she continued her coaching career in clubs of the Valencian Community, including her old club Dorna Godella (renamed Ros Casares) and other male and female clubs.