FCBARCELONA.CAT

16.07.2007 12:12

The Barça giant calls it a day

Carles Cascante

Roberto Dueñas is retiring from professional basketball. The man who was the ‘giant’ of the Barça side for 10 seasons has been forced to quit the game at the age of 31 due to back problems.

The tallest Spanish player in the history of the game (2.21 metros) is calling it a day after 12 seasons in the ACB - 379 games, 7,498 minutes, 2,783 points and 2,256 rebounds. Dueñas, who made his Barça debut in the 1995-96 season and spent ten seasons at the Club, also spent one season each with Akasvayu Girona and DKV Joventut Badalona.

Success with Barça

The Madrid born player, who made his home in Catalonia, has enjoyed a highly successful career. But there are two highlights that ‘Bob' Dueñas will surely never forget. The first was when he won his second ACB league winner’s medal in 1997, his first fully integrated season with the senior squad, and was chosen as MVP in the final played in Madrid against Barça's great rival.

The second was the Euroleague winner’s medal he picked up in 2003 in the Palau Sant Jordi. Just like Rodrigo De la Fuente last week, and indeed many other members of that team, Dueñas has admitted that the atmospheric final against Benetton was something very special.

The silverware

Apart from these two titles, Roberto Dueñas won five more ACB leagues (95-96, 98-99, 00-01, 02-03 and 03-04); two Kings Cups (00-01 and 02-03); one Korac Cup (98-99) and one ACB Super Cup (04-05). On the international stage, he won the silver medal at the France European Championships in 1999.