Tamara Abalde Díaz is a Spanish basketball player, currently player for Spanish team Durán Maquinaria Ensino. She played for Spain in the 2008 Summer Games and for the Lamar Cardinals in the NCAA. Her father, Alberto Abalde Rodríguez was a professional basketball player from 1980 to 1993, and her brother, Alberto Abalde Díaz, is also a professional basketball player for Real Madrid. Coming from a basketball family, Abalde attended Compañía de María School (1998-2003) and San José de la Guía in Vigo before joining Celta de Vigo Baloncesto’s youth teams in 2003. She made her debut in the Spanish top tier league at fifteen years of age.
She was just the sixth player in Lamar history to be named to the Southland Conference First Team. In addition, she was only the second player to earn SLC Freshman of the Year honors. After one season with Lamar of the NCAA, she decided to leave the team to pursue a professional career in Europe. She spent a couple of seasons at Baloncesto Rivas and half a season at UNB Obenasa Navarra. After a couple of seasons in France, she signed for Spanish powerhouse Perfumerías Avenida in 2013, winning two Spanish Cups, two Spanish Supercups and finishing as runner-up of the League twice. Looking for more playtime she spent the next three seasons in three different clubs (Cadí La Seu, CREFF ¡Hola! and Mann-Filter Casablanca) before signing for newly promoted team Valencia Basket in 2018.
Career highlights and awards
2x Spanish Cup champion (2014, 2015)
Medals: Representing Spain
Euro Basket
Gold medal First place 2019 Serbia/Latvia
Bronze medal Third place 2009 Latvia
Women Fitness President Ms. Namita Nayyar catches up Tamara Abalde, an exceptionally talented Spanish Basketball Player here she talks about her fitness routine, her diet, hair care, skincare and her success story.
Namita Nayyar:
You were born in Ferrol, Spain. You came from a basketball family, attended Compañía de María School (1998-2003) and San José de la Guía in Vigo before joining Celta de Vigo Baloncesto’s youth teams in 2003. You made your debut in the Spanish top-tier league at age of fifteen years. Later you started playing in Spain for Perfumerías Avenida from 2013 to 2015. This propelled your career to the height where you have been at the top of the world as a leading women’s basketball player. Tell us more about this journey of hard work, tenacity, and endurance?
Tamara Abalde:
I started playing basketball when I was eight years old. Basketball has always been a huge part of my life, my father played professionally in the first league in Spain and my little brother also became a professional basketball player, so the passion for this sport definitely runs in our family. I was lucky to have great examples to up to while growing up, not only in my family, but growing up in Vigo I could see the city team Celta de Vigo win several tittles at the top division in Spanish women’s basketball.
Since I was very young I spent long hours practicing, playing and traveling to many games and championships, I had to learn to find time to study and keep up with school while never breaking the commitment I had made with the team. Basketball has taught me a lot about effort, team work, commitment, dealing with frustration and resilience.
Namita Nayyar:
You signed for Spanish powerhouse Perfumerías Avenida in 2013, winning two Spanish Cups, two Spanish Supercups, and finishing as runner-up of the League twice. Tell us more about these winnings and what had been a catalyst to achieve such spectacular winning in the Spanish women basketball tournaments?
Tamara Abalde:
The two seasons I spent in Salamanca playing for Avenida were extremely challenging, both physically and mentally. This team was used to fight for every tittle in Spain and also in Europe. I learned to work and play under that constant pressure and today I can tell that experience made me grow both as a player and as a person.
Namita Nayyar:
You won the Gold medal playing for Spanish Team in the Euro Basket 2019 at Serbia/Latvia. Elaborate more about this exceptional achievement of your basketball playing career?
Tamara Abalde:
That is definitely one of the biggest accomplishments of my career. Playing for the Spanish National Team has always made extremely proud. I was lucky to be able to enjoy representing my country in tournaments around the world since I was fourteen, and winning this gold medal while I was at the top of my career was very special. And the fact that it happened in Belgrade, where I have family and consider my second home, made it magical.
Namita Nayyar:
You are only the freshman during the 2007–08 seasons to be named to the All-Southland Conference First Team; you recorded five double-doubles. In the same year 2007–08, you were awarded Southland Conference Rookie of the Year. Tell us a memorable moment in this tournament matches and how this wins in your career has been a turning point to motivate you to reach greater heights in your basketball playing career?
Tamara Abalde:
My short experience playing in the NCAA is another one of the highlights of my career. Coming from Spain and from European basketball, this was a very nourishing opportunity on an off the court. I remember I really enjoyed playing basketball with my teammates that season.
Full Interview is Continued on Next Page
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