| He was summoned by A?to Garci'a Reneses for a national basketball team. In season 79-80 it made debut in First with Jesus Codina, although it would not be until the following year when he jumped to the fame. The students were runners-up behind Barcelona and Fernando Mart?n comprises of an historical quintet that still the "lunatic fans" recite of memory: Vicente Gil, Lopez Rodriguez, Alfonso de la Corral, Mart?n and Slab Jones. Before finalizing the campaign, at just 19 years, he debuted with the absolute selection the 13 of May of the 81 in Bordeaux against France (106-109, a win for Spain). Fernando was drafted by Madrid with ten million pesetas. Almost immediately he was summoned to compete in Sao Paulo where the Intercontinental Glass is adjudged. This trophy is the prologue of the long chain of successes that Fernando accumulated until the summer of the 85. He had many accomplishments: Three leagues (82-83, 83-84 and 84-85), Recopa of Europe (83-84), sub-champion of Europe (84-85, before the Cibona de Petrovic), Silver in the European of Nantes'83 and Plata in the Games of the Angeles'84. With 23 years, he is assiduous in the lists of the best players of the continent. The New Jersey invited him to their campus with the possibility of filing a position. On 21 of August, before starting off for the United States, he suffered an accident with a Mercedes (property of the ex-national teamsman Diaz Miguel). Fernando left unharmed, but the car was sinfully totalled. The American experience does not prosper and Fernando went to Madrid. That season he made doublet (League and Glass), but his march to the NBA, in spite of being one of the best paid players of Europe, was imminent. At Mundobasket '86, celebrated in Spain, is the last competition that he played with the National Team. There were 72 games, with a balance of 50 victories and 22 defeats, 998 points and a one-game average of 13'8. Mart?n fulfilled his dream to play in the NBA. The Blazers paid attention to him and he played on 12-10-86, against the Chicago Bulls. However, his path was full of challenge and difficulties: the injuries harassed him and he missed friends, the Spanish food and climate. In addition, his coach, the young Mike Schuler, did not give many options to him to explode. His passage to the NBA is marked by 25 games, 147 minutes, 22 points, 28 rebounds, and 9 assists. |
Spain