When the Aloe Plus Lanzarote Conejero project started, currently in its second season in the EBA League, it did so with the firm purpose of being able to serve so that the young players of the island had the possibility of training and growing sportingly surrounded by basketball professionals.
The understanding with other clubs was sought so that players with sufficient value who finished in the junior category had the opportunity to continue developing in the national category.
This is how Elvis Pereira arrived at the beginning of the season, one of the players with the greatest projection on the island. The point guard has been earning a place in the orange team as the days go by, already being an important player in the rotations.
At only 20 years old, the player trained in the ranks of the Grubati Basketball Club is experiencing his first campaign in national basketball, standing out last weekend with more than 25 minutes played and 13 points scored, achieving a +9 rating.
It has been my best game since I arrived at the club and I feel how little by little I am growing as a player thanks to the work that is being done and the support of my teammates. If two years ago they told me that I would end up playing with Real Madrid or Estudiantes, I would not have imagined it." (Elvis Pereira).
Samuel Sosa warned a few weeks ago, "be careful with the young people who are coming strong, they are working well and are capable of making things difficult for the veterans." Elvis Pereira, Armiche Machín or Adrián Montes are the exponents of this.
Listen to the interview with Elvis Pereira on the Polideportivo program of Radio Lanzarote Onda Cero
A competitive void that begins in the junior age
Conejero basketball begins to have difficulties competing at the regional level from the junior age (17-18 years), when many young people of that age decide to abandon the competition while the teams of the capital islands are reinforced with foreign players and captured from other teams.
As a representative example, in the last day of the Junior Autonomous League the three participating Conejero clubs could barely line up two second-year junior players in their respective teams, which greatly weakens them when competing.
Perhaps this type of collaboration between clubs is the best alternative to maintain a level of sports competitiveness necessary for the progress of the players.
Once the junior age is over, the players who remain on the island have Aloe Plus Conejero as their main alternative to continue competing at the regional or national level, given their presence in the sub22 autonomous league and in the EBA League.
