By Zaina Alzinati
UTA Public Relations Student

Senior forward Jorge Bilbao's journey at UTA is coming to a close and he's hoping to go out with a bang.

Bilbao moved to Texas three years ago from his native Spain to play basketball at UTA. His move across the world was only one of the many transitions he's had to deal with in his life.

Bilbao says his move to Texas was easy because of how welcoming and friendly everyone was to him, but he quickly had to adjust to how different his new life was than what he was used to back home.

"People were always helping me out from the very first moment," Bilbao said. "It's my fourth year so now it's funny to see, for example, at first I needed help with some things. Now, I'm the one helping people out.

"Coming to Texas was a great thing for me, I like it a lot and I think it's a valuable experience now and for the future."

A change in positions he played on the court was another aspect of his life that required a few adjustments.

Originally, he wanted to be a small forward but had to adapt to a new position as forward/center. Bilbao need to increasehis strength and size to accommodate his new position. At UTA, he found there were more facilities, resources and opportunities to help him through his transitions.

Now as the season is well underway, he is beginning to feel the pressure. The high expectations and positive media coverage for the UTA men's basketball team motivate him to do the best that he can before saying his final goodbyes.

Coach Scott Cross describes Bilbao as selfless and always doing what he can to help the team. "He may be the toughest player I've ever coached," said Cross. "He's the heart and soul of the team."

The years leading up to his final year at UTA have made Bilbao a fan favorite. Bleachers are frequently filled with screaming fans providing support. Some even wear t-shirts with the words `Hip Hip Jorge.' But the adulation is bittersweet, as the 6-9 forward gets ready to say goodbye.

Before coming to UTA, Bilbao had offers to play professionally in Europe, but he wanted to wait until after he got his degree. Now that he is almost finished, he has plans to go overseas and play basketball in Spain or other countries in Europe.

Bilbao's chapter at UTA is almost at a close, but his journey isn't over yet. He plans to go as far as basketball will take him.

"I'm lucky," Bilbao humbly says. "Every day I try to make the most out of every chance I get."