UNIVERSITY OF THE FRASER VALLEY
Spanish basketball standouts find a home with UFV Cascades

Thousands of kilometres from where they were born and raised, two Spanish basketball players have found a home with the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades. 

Ismael Hernandez and Dario Lopez have brought international flair to the program while discovering what makes Canada and the Fraser Valley feel special. 

"Before I came here, I saw Canada as a completely different world, but it really has come to feel like home," said Ismael, who hails from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the largest city in Spain's Canary Islands. "People in Spain ask me how that can be, and I tell them I really can't explain. You just have to be here to understand." 

Dario is from Spain's capital city, Madrid. 

"Living in a big city, I didn't get to do a lot of the things I can do here," Dario said. "People always seem to have something going on mountain biking, snowboarding, camping, hiking, running, boating on the lake. They're always doing something, and that's what I'm going to miss the most when I eventually go back to Spain." 

The two students did not know each other before arriving at UFV, but Ismael said his countryman was a huge help during his transition to Canada. The pair spoke several times by phone before Ismael arrived, discussing classes, the program, head coach Joe Enevoldson and the Canada West conference. 

"When Dario came here, he didn't have another Spanish guy on the team, but I did, and that made it easier for me," Ismael said. "I have a friend who went to Prince Edward Island for a year and couldn't make it because of homesickness. But for me, from the first day, Dario and all the guys here made me feel like I was home." 

A third-year, six-foot-seven forward-guard, Ismael Hernandez has been a matchup problem for Canada West opponents because of his size and agility.

Both players speak fluent English, though Ismael admits teammate Clay Kurtz likes to tease him. 

"I try my best, but he's always on me for pronunciation," he said with a laugh. "But I laugh at him too when he tries to speak Spanish." 

On the court, Dario and Ismael have introduced a Spanish flavour to the Cascades from warmup music that teammates have adopted to their European style of play. 

"Basketball in Spain is different very methodical," Dario said. 

"Our style is more about systems, where here it's more physical and one-on-one," Ismael added. 

A third-year, six-foot-seven forward-guard, Ismael has been a matchup problem for Canada West opponents because of his size and agility. He is averaging a team-leading 6.6 rebounds, along with 12.1 points and 2.3 assists per game. 

Dario is a fifth-year forward who blends size and speed in his six-foot-seven frame. He leads the team with 15.1 points per game, while also averaging 5.9 rebounds and 2.2 assists. He was named a Canada West second-team all-star last season. 

They are playing key roles for a team that is surging up the Canada West standings and just completed their first weekend sweep of the UBC Thunderbirds since 2013, winning 91-87 on Jan 23 and 90-79 on Jan 24. 

Off the court, Ismael is studying arts and is considering a future as a teacher or police officer. Dario is set to graduate in June with a physics degree and will continue his post-secondary education elsewhere next year, with an interest in nuclear or medical physics. 

"I'm a little sad about leaving UFV because I've made a lot of friends," he said. "But it's also exciting because a door is opening for me when I go home." 

Dario is not ready to say goodbye to basketball just yet, with plans to pursue a professional career. 

"Spain has very good professional leagues, and I've made a bit of a name for myself with the Cascades," he said. "Almost everyone playing at this level dreams of playing pro, and if I can do that while studying for my master's, that's my ideal scenario. Achieving that because of my five years here would be special, because I wouldn't have the opportunity if I hadn't come to UFV." 

Ismael also hopes to play professional basketball when he returns to Spain. 

"No matter the sport, that's almost always the goal," he said. "Being able to play for a few years, have fun and make money doing it that would be the best for me." 

The Cascades are home this weekend, taking on Trinity Western Friday night (Jan 30) at 8 pm at the UFV Athletics Centre. 

Find their schedule online at https://gocascades.ca/sports/mens-basketball/schedule.