Timea Beres recalls excitement of representing Hungary at the youth level

BUDAPEST (Hungary) - It's been a long time since Timea Beres stepped onto the podium at the European Championship for Junior Women in Bulgaria, yet the former Hungary star remembers it as if it happened only yesterday.

Beres, who performed the Draw for the FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup in Budapest on Tuesday, remembered what it was like to be on that team in Bulgaria, in 1994.

Pride and joy

"I always enjoyed and was very proud to play in the national team," she said.

"Maybe the best memory was the first competition, the (1994) European basketball tournament, and to get the bronze medal in this competition."

Beres was a 1.92m (6ft 4in) center, and she was a force. She set the event alight with a 26-point explosion in a 80-63 triumph over hosts Bulgaria.

She would go on to finish as the third leading scorer at the event, averaging 16.7 points per game.

Hungary suffered their only defeat, to Italy in the Semi-Finals, 60-57.

Beres and Co bounced back with a 63-56 victory over Russia in the Third-Place Game.

Playing with her idol

A few years later and she made her bow at the FIBA Women's EuroBasket and did so in Hungary.

To make it an even more meaningful experience, Beres got to be a teammate of a Hungary great, two-time Olympian Agnes Nemeth, 

"The first time I played in the senior team, Nemeth was for me the best player and we played together on the national team and achieved fourth place in the European Championship, and especially on the Hungarian court in front of a big crowd," she said.

"To be in the senior national team, to play with my idols, the players I had watched on television, I have a lot of special memories."

The great challenge of the U17WWC

The FIBA U17 Women's Basketball World Cup will be staged in the beautiful city of Debrecen.

"We are very happy and proud to host this competition and we can show the ability and the hospitality of Hungarians," she said.

Looking ahead to the U17 Women's Basketball World Cup, Beres called it a huge opportunity for those that take part.

"It's always a great challenge," she said. "You can measure your position on the world map (as a team) ... It's a big thing to represent your country in Europe, in the world, to show your ability and performance. I think it's a big thing and every athlete wants to compete in such an event."

FIBA