During the Binational games in Barranquilla, in the finals against Granadino, just moments after the game had started, Luisa Munera suffered an accident. A girl from the other team run into her knee resulting in an injury to her knee and that simple thing would change her performance and everything from that point on.

In Karl C. Parrish Middle School Binationals finals something catastrophic happen causing her a knee injury that would jeopardize her ability to play in the future. Munera, TCS basketball team point guard, is forced to miss this year’s High School Binational games due to a knee injury in the same tournament last year.

How does the injury affects the team

“This [her injury] has been a great loss for the team; she is a very talented player and she is capable of doing things that some others in the team can’t. I’m really sorry for her; she will be missed,” said David Lopez girls basketball head coach.

“I got injured in a basketball game [finals]; a girl from the other team was running while dribbling the ball; she ran into my knee when I went to defend her and crossed  to take the ball away from her,” Munera said.

Munera’s capability could have led the team to their ultimate goal; winning the championship.

After the injury Munera went to the doctor and heard two options: either to have a surgery or not. Knowing the consequences they decided that they wouldn’t do it. For some time that was fine, but by the passing of the months it started to get worse.

How the injury changed her playing style

At the beginning of the school year, in the first training she landed badly in her knee which resulted in her knee getting worst. After going to another doctor they told her that she should have gotten the surgery at the beginning, and that they would need to perform the surgery as soon as possible. After that the doctor said that she could not play for one year and a half, affecting the team on the offensive part of the game because she has the capability of running the offence of the team.

After injuries many athletes remained marked because they will always remember how they got injured the first time and that will lead to a change in their style of play. In Munera’s case she said “I think that we all have a very specific and unique style of play, but I do think that after my injury mine will change. I think that after the pain and the experience of the injury I will always be a little afraid of playing with the same intensity.”

The rehab plays a really big role after an injury because if they have a really good rehab they will come back strong and ready to play.

“I think that the injury can affect her style of play a little but if she does the rehab and is committed she should be fine. My only concern is that maybe physically she would need a lot of training,” said Isabela Murillo, 11th grade TCS student and girls basketball captain.

How can she help the team improve

Being the point guard of a basketball team is a really important since they are the responsible of running the offencive part of the game.

“Luisa has the ability to run the offensive of the team and her style of play will benefit other players of the team like Murillo because Luisa has the ability to close the defence and leave teammates free to make comfortable shots,” said Pablo Florez, TCS Senior and high school boys basketball captain.

Munera should be able to start training with the team next year and everyone hopes that she is going to get a full recovery and get the best out of it.

“I think that this injury would just make me want to come back stronger and more committed to my team, it was a very unpleasant thing to pass through, but everything happens for a reason,” Munera said.