ORDINO, Andorra - The
Pioneers ate an early breakfast before heading four hours up to the
Pyrenees and into Andorra, a tiny country that's bordered by Spain and
France.
The
team is staying at Anyós Park Resort, nestled high above Andorra La
Vella and Escaldes-Engordany, the biggest towns in this country of about
80,000 people. The area is somewhat similar to Vail with a large valley
running between mountains. The temperature is just about perfect.
An
early arrival gave the players and coaches a bit of free time to enjoy
the pools and other amenities at the resort. As usual, four hours before
game time meant pasta and chicken, as Kyle Lewis pointed out in his blog a few days ago.
Tonight's
venue proved a little difficult to find, but after some searching and
creative driving by the bus driver - which involved head coach Joe Scott and his father, Bob, jumping out to direct traffic with arms waving - we found what appears to be a newly constructed gym.
This
is the first time we've seen the new court setup with a wide,
rectangular lane and a farther three-point line. FIBA made those changes
for this upcoming season, but the previous gyms had not changed their
paint yet.
Cajasol
Sevilla, tonight's opponent, is the highest ranked team that Denver
will play. However, when the tour guide mentioned some of Cajasol's
players, Scott turned around and asked the team if it mattered who they
were playing. The response was a resounding, "No," with Kyle adding,
"The only name we care about is the one across the front of our
jerseys."
Cajasol
Sevilla requested a closed game, meaning the only people here cheering
will be wearing Denver colors. Does that make this a home game?
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