Monday, August 30, 2010

Andorra - 8/30/10

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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