The "Rafael Castiello" room in the Guantánamo capital was boiling like water at over 100 degrees Celsius. Thousands of fans hanging from windows, towers, and even the ceiling followed with passion the developments of the Superior Basketball League.
Not by chance baptized as the San Justo's Cauldron, many of the best players of the 2000s engaged in fierce battles; among them, Georvis Elias, a handsome young man of two meters and 100 kilograms who, at 42 years old, still plays in the Spanish league of the sport of baskets.
Julita, believe it or not, I still play at my 42 years old in the Basketball Club of Daimiel, Ciudad Real, and I am doing well, now with my 105 kilos of muscle hahaha.
I left Cuba in 2009 to play a friendly match against that great Spanish team led by the Gasol brothers and company in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. For me, it was always a one-way trip because I had already decided... I wanted to be free!
And how have you been in Spain, how were you received on the Island?
In Gran Canaria, there is a very large Cuban community, and from the beginning, we were very well received. I speak in the plural because you will remember that there were four of us: the pivots Georfry Silvestre and Grismay Paumier, and the point guard Taylor García. We were right at home, so to speak.
And you're telling me that before leaving you had made the decision to stay?
It was a decision made from Cuba between my brother Gato Silvestre and me. We were the ones who had been in the selection the longest, and two young men, Paumier and Taylor, joined us, as I told you.
Everything went well. At first, a little nervous, you can imagine the life change that is imposed: without your house, without your family, without your people, without your country but never with regret. Just 2 weeks after arriving, the great Aroldis Chapman appeared, who had left the team in Holland before the traditional Rotterdam tournament began.
How did he come across with you?
Because the news of our decision sounded, and boy did it sound! It was a media event: out of twelve players, four are staying in Spain.
A picture of us was taken at a bar, and that's how Aroldis located us. He still didn't know his destiny, and, selflessly, he offered us his help. From the first moment, he made everything easy for us. I will never forget that gesture, as well as the boxer Yuriorkis Gamboa's, who also supported us. We spent months between Barcelona and Andorra until Aroldis left for the United States.
How have you managed to stay in shape?
I'll tell you: they call me the Guantanamo train because of my enviable physique, muscular, athletic. It's true that I take care of myself, but can you imagine who I would be right now in Cuba? Please! Even superstars are forgotten. I would, at most, be a coach at the Guaso EIDE. Staying has been the best decision of my life. I take good care of myself, I maintain myself: exercises, good nutrition. I have what I need.
Where do you currently live?
I have carried out my entire professional life in Spain. It has been hard for me to leave this place. I am someone who, if I feel good in a certain place, I do not move. Currently, as I mentioned, I play for the Daimiel Basketball Club and live in Ciudad Real, a town located an hour and a half from Madrid.
I have also played for the Albacete club in Castilla la Mancha, where I am the player with the most points, rebounds, and assists. In fact, I have a jersey hanging on the wall of the court, a tribute they pay to the best players. I was with Albacete for four years and I have already been with Daimiel for five years.
When I decided to live in the Canary Islands, I played for teams from Lanzarote and Tenerife. In 2012, I was close to joining the first division team of Gran Canaria, but my paperwork was not in order as a Spanish citizen yet, and occupying a foreign player slot was very difficult.
First steps, first court, first coach? Were you always a basketball player?
My beginnings in Cuba date back to when I was 8 years old; I trained at the legendary San Justo boiler. My first coach and the one I love the most is named Antonio Martín, to whom I owe everything. I only practiced basketball despite many failed attempts to veer towards volleyball.
Guantánamo is a province that loves basketball. Our players had their golden era in the 80s, when they were three-time national champions of the top category. Furthermore, when the Superior League was created, they formed a magnificent partnership with players from Santiago, giving rise to those Eastern players who fought many great battles, mainly against Capitalinos.
Basketball was and is the passion of many in my hometown; in my case, since I was 8 years old, I haven't let go of the ball. It was played everywhere, and on top of that, we were lucky enough to be able to watch university and NBA games, the best basketball in the world, on the naval base channel that back then reached all the TV sets in the province.
All of that contributed to basketball getting into my veins like blood that you need to live. That's how I successfully participated in pioneer, school, and youth games. See how good it was that at just 15 years old, not even in my first year as a youth player, they took me to a first-tier tournament and it was tremendous.
Guantánamo had a very good team that included prominent figures in national basketball, led by Roberto "La Piedra" Simón, a gentleman of a center who I appreciate greatly and who always helped and advised me.
The Stone is the father of that world-class volleyball player Roberlandy Simón, who is now a key player for the Cuban national team aspiring to compete in Paris, giving his all in the Nations League. But let's go back to the boy Georvis.
I can tell you that I was the typical "kid" of the team at the beginning, but there was an unexpected event, so to speak: playing in the semifinals, if I remember correctly against Capitalinos (what a great team, what can I tell you that you don't already know), there was a moment when several players had fouled out and Humberto Soler, who was doing really well, injured his wrist.
There was practically no other option: I entered the court and those were the minutes that marked my consecration, I played even as a forward. It was only a few minutes, I was wearing my "Matanzas sneakers", but I made an impression.
Afterward, I participated in my first National Youth Championship, and that's when I was promoted to the national ESPA in Habana del Este. I stayed for two years until I was called up to the national team at Cerro Pelado when I was 18 years old.
Georvis doesn't say it out of modesty, something that has always characterized him, but in those two years in the national ESPA, he helped me a lot by taking care of my son Julito like an older brother. Julito is a tennis player, small, skinny, and prone to being "the ball" of the group; however, there were always the basketball players with my interviewee today at the forefront, watching over the smallest of my offspring... things that are never forgotten, right?
Georvis, how did you do at Cerro Pelado?
The journey was not easy at all because we had to live through a tough period. In the year 1999, those giants of Cuban basketball remained, led by Lázaro Borrel, Ángel Oscar Caballero, and the late Roberto Carlos Herrera.
So, the generation that was coming up, to which I belonged, we had to "pay the price". I joined the team in 2000 and all we did was train, train, and train, without any international experience. Our only goal was the Superior Basketball League (LSB). Can you imagine?
I was at Cerro Pelado until 2009 and during that time, Daniel Scott and Leonardo Pérez were in charge of me: I would have loved to have had Miguelito Calderón as a coach, but he was no longer there.
For me, he was the best coach at that time. I know that with him, I could have further developed my basketball skills; I don't think he would have stopped at trivial things like "don't grow a beard, don't get tattoos, don't wear those clothes" that bothered me so much back then.
Therefore, during that period of nine years on Cerro Pelado, not everything was rosy because while I got along well with everyone, with my sport and everyone, I experienced many bad moments. There was a time when if you didn't laugh with the coach or "didn't kiss up to him" as they say here in Spain, you were not to his liking. I had to endure a lot, but thanks to God, everything served me to become who I am today... a free man!
Many times journalists go to do the interview or report and those personal details are left aside, but certainly, due to my affection for him, I found out about some of those issues, which can be made public today but at that time it would have been detrimental to him if I had disclosed them. Oh well!
Did you always play as the small forward, I mean, as a forward?
I have always played as a small forward, it's my favorite position, although I could also play in three positions: small forward, power forward, and center; those who know me well know what I mean. Notice that now I play in the power forward and center positions; it's what the team needs and that's where I am.
Main international events?
The biggest experience I had with the national team was at the Central American and Caribbean Games in Cartagena de Indias 2006 in Colombia. Despite not getting on the podium, I was able to be surrounded by the best athletes from Cuba; it was a blessing.
Your fondest memory of Cuban basketball?
Whew! Julita remembers that basketball and its LSB not only matched but surpassed the spectacle of the National Baseball Series. People went crazy, the facilities were packed, the fans were totally hooked; those were unforgettable moments. That Caldera de San Justo – people even climbed onto the roofs!
And when I stayed, I remember how the fans used to write to me saying they no longer wanted to go see basketball in Guantanamo. And, it's true, my beloved San Justo Caldera has never been filled again. The truth is, I would read the emails and tears would come to my eyes.
Things have changed a lot now. Fortunately, players are getting contracts, either on their own or through the Federation. That didn't exist in my time; in addition to the lies they told us, Silvestre and I are still waiting for the contract in Russia that they promised us so much.
At least now, although they are not all we would like, some have been able to play abroad and thus contribute to an improvement in our basketball, and of course, to their own benefit.
Internally, it is indeed more difficult for us to see those intense days of good basketball again because we all know that many resources are lacking and perhaps, even the desire, but well, it is what it is, and why not? what is missing: transportation, food, accommodation, depressing conditions of the courts, including the backboards and balls.
How true are your words! Any wishes for the Cubans classified for Paris?
Julita, I am a fan of my people from Cuba, I don't care about the sport, I don't care which country they compete for. I will always wish them the best because I know about the humble origins that the vast majority of us come from. In the Olympic Games, I will support all Cubans, no matter where they compete.
Are you happy, do you feel fulfilled?
Yes, personally, I feel fulfilled. I have been able to pursue my career outside of Cuba. As I told you, I have my jersey hanging in a pavilion here in Spain, which you already know is something they do for legends.
Another fulfilled dream was playing with a Cuban, in this case a Guantanamero like me, the shooting guard Raudelis Guerra, who was left out of the national team selection in Madrid almost three years ago. He spent two years with me and now he is playing in Córdoba, Andalucía.
When is Georvis Junior coming?
Hahahaha, coming soon! You will be the first to know. And as always, I thank you for not having forgotten me. Say hi to Lolo (Julito) for me. Hahahaha.
What do you think?
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