The Mumbai monsoons have been a standout function of Girona and Spain star Marta Canella’s journey to India, a lot in order that they supplied a quick disruption to the schedule, as her sit-down with Sportstar was briefly delayed by rain.
Canella is in India, together with the VIBGYOR Group of Faculties, to conduct a collection of elite basketball workshops for varsity college students aged 10 to 18. The Girona participant is relishing the chance to develop the sport amongst Indian college college students, and sees an incredible alternative to study, each for the scholars and her.
“That is a tremendous alternative, on this case, for the youngsters right here. However so it’s for me. This fashion I can broaden my view, my data of the world of basketball. Working with children is all the time extraordinarily rewarding, seeing a smile on their faces after each observe, or simply strolling round after which eager to ask questions, to learn about our life there and every thing…it’s been very, very fulfilling,” she says.
Canella’s method to date has been tempered by the data that she has restricted time with the contributors. She has opted to position much less give attention to technical elements of the sport and extra on growing observe habits, function, and teamwork.
“We are attempting to indicate them that there’s a function to each observe and particularly that this can be a staff sport. So, we are attempting to work with a number of staff drills the place they’ve to speak with their teammates and assist one another,” she defined.
Teamwork was central to Canella’s beginnings with basketball. A self-professed lover of staff sports activities, she performed each soccer and basketball as a baby earlier than deciding on basketball. For a few years, she balanced pursuing her sporting profession with teachers, finishing a Grasp’s diploma whereas taking part in for Barca CBS in Liga Femenina 2—the second division. As soon as her aspect was promoted, she determined to make the leap and go skilled.
Reflecting on the time administration required for this, she mentioned, “…Going to the practices, to my video games and every thing, that’s what I actually, actually wished to do. That was like my reward of the day, which I believe I used to be wanting ahead to daily, each week. However on the identical time, I knew I needed to do good with my research to have the ability to go to what was my interest at that second. So, in that manner, it was type of straightforward as a result of I knew what my priorities had been.”
Canella shifted to Girona in 2023, the place she had a prolific 2024-25 home season. Her aspect, Spar Girona, completed atop LF Endesa, the highest division of Spanish ladies’s basketball, earlier than narrowly dropping out to Basket Zaragoza within the playoffs.
Consistent with the ethos of her workshops, the Girona level guard identifies laborious work and reliability as key to her kind, saying, “I believe that’s the place I attempt to be totally different from the remainder, you recognize, to be somebody you possibly can depend on. On the finish of the day, this can be a staff. On this case, if it’s a high staff, you recognize that you simply’re going to have, individually, some higher moments and a few worse moments. So, I believe it’s important to be okay with that as a result of what you need is that the staff succeeds, every thing that you’re doing is for the staff to succeed,” she provides.
On the again of its home success, Girona will play the 2025-26 EuroLeague Girls, the place it has been drawn in a bunch with sides from Czechia and Poland. This represents a singular alternative for Canella to face off towards sides primarily based in different nations. It’s one she is wanting ahead to.
Except for the chance to journey and compete for a European title, she views arising towards distinct types of play from totally different nations and leagues as a singular problem posed by such competitions.
“It’s important to meet what you recognize from basketball with what you recognize from the nation after which what you recognize from the gamers themselves, as a result of on the finish, they’re those who make the sport in that case,” she says.
The problem of 3×3 Basketball
Canella has additionally donned the Spanish jersey, the place she has made waves within the 3×3 format. She was a part of the Spanish aspect that received the 3×3 FIBA Europe Cup in 2021 and acquired a call-up to the nationwide aspect in Might.
“The 3×3 is far more fast-paced. I believe each participant has to have the ability to do every thing that you are able to do on a basketball courtroom,” she mentioned.
Canella pinpointed that taking part in 3×3 has made her a greater basketball participant, noting that it requires her to adapt bodily and mentally to challenges in a format that requires her to be a “360 kind of participant”.
The 3×3 format was launched as an Olympic occasion throughout the Tokyo 2020 version, and Canella mirrored on this, saying, “I believe it’s nice as a result of I believe the numbers of the protection have proven that this can be very adopted when it’s streamed, when folks have the possibility to observe it simply with entry.”
She additional added, “You’ve a number of emotions concerned in these 10 minutes, and then you definately simply rotate the groups and you’ll watch the subsequent and subsequent and subsequent. So, I really feel prefer it might be in comparison with scrolling on TikTok, however in sports activities phrases. I believe by introducing it as a brand new Olympic sport, it’s been nice for the game and in addition for the viewers.”
The 3×3 format is an integral a part of the Spaniard’s future as properly. “My important aim is to have the ability to signify my nation there within the subsequent Olympics in LA. It’s true that I may have the possibility with each basketball kinds, however I believe the 3×3 can be far more thrilling and possibly far more practical in my case. So, that’s the principle aim for the longer term.”