Torero Diaries

So that was it for me! No more home games as a Torero. But one thing I can say is that it  has been a pleasant experience being a Torero these past two years. This, in turn, means my basketball career in college is coming closer to an end. The past four years playing in the United States has been an excellent experience for me, both from an athletic and academic standpoint. Not only have I been able to play the sport I love, but I have also been able to earn a college degree from an outstanding academic institution.
I can still remember my first practice in the United States at Southeastern Community College in West Burlington, Iowa. Playing at the junior college level was the only way I could play basketball here for two reasons. One, the ACT is not offered in Brazil and two, I could not speak any English. These two factors made my transition from Brazil directly to a university practically impossible.
Looking back on that first practice, I can remember the differences in the level of play between myself and my juco teammates. I initially thought I would have a very difficult time being successful at this level, but I was determined, and I knew that if I wanted to play at a Division I school I needed to work very hard to make that dream a reality. Looking back, one thing I can say with complete certainty is that I did work very hard to be in the position I am in right now.
After my senior night I realized that I am not as content as I imagined myself being at this point in my career. Since my freshman year I have been envisioning this night, but this experience and my season is not ending the way I had hoped and planned. Injuries have plagued our team from the beginning, making the success of our team more difficult. The team’s chemistry never seemed to completely click for many different reasons. However, the only thing I can do is learn from the team’s mistakes and become a better player.
My ultimate dream of playing in the NCAA tournament has turned out to be almost impossible at this point. The only games guaranteed for my collegiate basketball career are the ones that are  to be played at the WCC tournament in Vegas.
At this point I have to ask myself, how can I make my dream of playing in an NCAA tournament a reality? The only answer, and it’s certainly not an easy one, is to win the WCC tournament, which takes place tomorrow in Las Vegas. Will it be a difficult journey? Absolutely. Impossible? Nothing is impossible.