Oriol Paulí, the MVP of the moment plays in Lleida and speaks Catalan

BarcelonaThe fashionable player in the Liga Endesa speaks Catalan. Oriol Paulí scored 27 points against Barça and 28 against Unicaja. His current form is key for Hiopos Lleida, who are looking to secure their permanence. This Saturday's opponent is Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos. “I'm in good form. In sports, dynamics are very important. There have been weaker moments during the season, but now I'm in very good shape, physically and mentally. The objective is to try to extend this moment as much as possible because it helps me play with a lot of confidence,” he says.Since this season, Paulí is the ambassador for Catalan basketball. “For me, it's an honor. There are many Catalan players, and that they thought of me fills me with pride. It makes you think you're doing things right, not just as a player but also as a person. When the Catalan Federation proposed it to me, I didn't hesitate for a moment because it's a very big milestone,” he acknowledges. The forward is eager to wear the Catalan national team jersey again. “I would be very excited. I think the last game I played with the Catalan national team was when I was 15 years old. To wear the Catalunya jersey again would be very special. I couldn't be at the centenary match against Argentina, and now I would love to be able to do it. Every time I meet Ferran Aril, president of the FCBQ, I ask him about it,” he admits.

Paulí participated a few days ago in the first Solidarity Day, an event that served to publicize some of the projects that clubs and NGOs have launched. Whenever I can help with these types of initiatives, I do. Years ago we had a girl from Senegal at home for six months and that experience marked me a lot. She had some physical problems and was treated at the Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, which has a specific program. It was an incredible experience. We still have the memory very present", he confesses.

"Players are also people, but often we focus on our day-to-day. Training, playing... Often we don't see everything that surrounds basketball or everything that basketball can do, which can be a perfect tool to promote solidarity projects. Being able to help and being able to give visibility is key. I play for Hiopos Lleida, a club that always supports these types of initiatives. They always think of campaigns and, if we players can help with our bit, we do it. A small gesture may seem insignificant, but sometimes you can help another person a lot and I believe that together we must try to make a better world," he summarizes.Golman, out

Gerard Encuentra, coach of Hiopos Lleida, will be without György Golomán, and John Shurna is also a doubt due to muscular discomfort. “A victory in Burgos wouldn't give us a mathematical advantage, but it would be quite significant. We're reaching the final stretch, where things can be decided. Away from home, you have to have superior mental strength”, says the coach.