Fernando SAN EMETERIO
#4 | Shooting Guard

Fernando San Emeterio started his professional career playing as a point guard but soon moved to the combo 2-3 positions, where he could better use his 1-on-1 skills, speed, aggressiveness and rebounding qualities. In April 2002, he destroyed the USA team in the semi-finals of a prestigious junior tournament in Mannheim (Germany), by scoring 38 points and grabbing 15 rebounds.

After that, he became a good level player in the ACB and moved to powerhouse Tau Ceramica Vitoria in 2008.

Just one year later, in the summer of 2009, the team put him on the transfer list and then it all suddenly changed.

He stayed and became a key player for the newly-named Caja Laboral Vitoria, leading the whole Liga ACB in minutes per game and averaging 10.9 points and 4.0 rebounds. However, his biggest moment was to come in the ACB Finals earlier this year when Caja Laboral was edging Euroleague champions Barcelona by 2-0 and was 76-78 down with 5 seconds to go in the overtime of the third game.

Fernando took the ball and completed a famous “And-1” play at the buzzer, giving his team an unexpected league play-off title and completing a personal fairytale just one year after potentially being shown the way out.

Now he is the hero and a FIBA World Championship awaits. Will the fairy-tale continue?