Questions about the new project in Gold – Basketball Zone

I wanted to wait a few days to find out what was being said in different media and press conferences about how the situation of the “new” demise of the Movistar Students, since the GBC in its economic modesty has become in a way an elevator team. The institutional appearance issued by the directive a few days ago clarified little, since they talked about the usual: a bit of self-criticism, that the sponsors are going to follow, that it is not known where it will be played and that going up to the ACB should be the objective Yes or yes.

It is also advisable to read an article about what the fans think of a classic ACB team and that it had always been there. A space for it is Students Square, which has published an interesting piece answering certain unknowns, with a vote on different opinions that has registered more than 1,000 votes.

Related: The Estu in LEB: and now what? | Students Square

But we continue with the main topic of our article: see what other teams have done returned to the ACB after spending a single season in the LEB Gold. Despite the debts that are usually generated in those teams in the lower zone, several of them have used that course in Gold to wipe out these debts and consolidate a foundation to grow. In this way, we can see how teams like Bàsquet Manresa, Bilbao Basket and Real Betis Baloncesto spent their “year of purgatory” and now they have endured in the ACB. But, be careful, it is not as easy as it is painted.

ICL Manresa (17/18). It cost him his thing in a great season at Breogán, which left him without direct promotion. It was the course in which Diego Ocampo came to the bench for the playoffs, being close to the canvas several times. The team had clear ideas: it opted for consolidated players for main roles (Jordi Trias, Álvaro Muñoz or a Nacho Martín who arrived from CBCV after showing that he was recovered), it looked for a foreign physicist (Hamilton, Allen and the now “European star” Lundberg ) and gave command from the ‘one’ to the renewed Lluís Costa and the incorporated Gintvainis (Peñas), in addition to also giving space to homegrown players such as Sakho or Jou, now already consolidated in ACB.

Real Betis Energía Plus (18/19). The demonstration that a All-Star He can be promoted, although the following season, with the Palma fiasco, it was also clear that having a squad full of names does not ensure the goal. Players like Samb, Stainbrook, Costa, Dee, Dani Rodríguez, Pablo Almazán and Tunde Olumuyiwa joined Enechionyia, Borg or Bropleh. A beastly squad that Curro Segura shaped.

RETAbet Bilbao Basket (18/19). Betis’s good season made Bilbao go the long way, risking everything in an F4 in which he would achieve the long-awaited promotion. A long and compensated squad, with foreign bets that dominated the competition (Larsen, Lammers, Brown), with the ACB experience of Salgado and Schreiner, who play in any category, plus several players also with experience such as Rafa Huertas, Edu Martínez, Matulionis or players in progression like Cruz or Demetrio. A high-flying team, but one that took sweat and tears to climb.

The Movistar Estudiantes squad is left with many questions. You have to see how the contracts are actually resolved. For example, I can’t imagine Edwin Jackson playing Gold, but who knows. More complicated I see Víctor Arteaga, for being a ‘five’ quota. Yes, an Edgar Vicedo would fit into the team looking to be physically well and being important in Gold. Another player who should be a star and who should be given gold stripes is the Lithuanian. Dovy Giedraitis, really the “only young man” for whom the club has bet, where the presence of other players has been more lip service than minutes. Of course, in Gerard Solé’s table, the players with a contract (I don’t know if they are canceled due to relegation) are Giedraitis (2023), Vicedo (2022), Domínguez (2023) and Arroyo (2023). Adams Sola He is another of the players who in Gold must have his space if he renews with the team. He has been counting on more minutes in the final section and he has been seen more confident in the direction and in the outside shot … But are you prepared to be a starting point guard in Gold, a competition that you do not know, being a player who has never counted with that important role all these years?

With the subsidiary rising to LEB Plata, the word quarry could be filled in the mouths of many, but beware, because the Gold is not the EBA and it is a tougher competition than it may seem. For example, which young people have Students for these struggles. We can start with the loaned this course in Silver:

Alex Tamayo. He has two assignments: Peñas (he occupied a second unit role in a humble team of Gold without excelling) and La Roda (he has been important in Tito Moya’s schemes, but he has not managed to break it in Silver either, being key for his game physical, but irregular in his performances). Doubts about what to do with it.

Diego Alderete. Strange season: it started in Clavijo, was re-caught by the first team (to have him in the stands) and finally ended in Carbajosa, where Yeyo Vicente made him play almost every minute. It is a ‘three’ that needs to work on its launch and its reading of the game, but that provides defense, rebound, shooting situations in spot up or game without the ball. With a good ‘three’ headline you can have your role.

And who can go up from the subsidiary? Some players have already participated with the first team, but what should be clear is that more than the names are the roles of the team. It is true that the subsidiary has risen to LEB Plata, but in a very irregular season, the Junior being dismounted from the F4 of the Madrid Championship.

Nacho Arroyo. He came to be decisive in the final stretch of EBA and even the last match in ACB offered ways, but in the end it is a U22 without minutes in the elite and with a year of ostracism. In a competition full of experienced bases and who know them all (rivals, referees, pavilions …), a Sola-Arroyo couple in the ‘one’ can be a real risky bet if it is not accompanied by knowledge, direction and rigor. Another of the conditioning factors of the Chilean is whether he would obtain the community passport soon to stop occupying an extra-community position.

Rubén Domínguez. If he does not migrate to teams of more substance, he must be yes or yes in the first team. Seeing how other teams have used juniors, it is hard to believe that Estudiantes did not openly bet on him. Rubén is a player already made, although he lacks that maturity of the years. With excellent competitiveness and quality, it must be, together with Dovy, one of the basic pieces of the backcourt.

Emil Stoilov. The Bulgarian has been practically out for a year between health problems, not playing with the EBA and not having opportunities in ACB, beyond training. We have been left without seeing his talent, his evolution to ‘four’ and where he can go. Anyway, a second unit with Stoilov and Levy seems “very fair” to me.

Héctor Alderete. After two years of standing, the quality is still there, but from my point of view you should not be in a hurry, so that that knee does not become overloaded. Ettore is going to be very important in Estudiantes, if nothing else goes wrong, but his moment will come and perhaps right now Stoilov should be the bet on the ‘four’.

Gilad Levy. A real wall in EBA. He has grown physically (perhaps even in centimeters) and does the things he must do well, but here is a clear question: are he prepared to receive the rival clinics when he plays against Arteaga, Fall, Larsen …? For me the answer is no. Is it better to have him as the fifth pivot playing 10 minutes per game or is a transfer in Silver or in Gold itself more fruitful where they assure him 20-25 minutes per clash? Well, these are the questions that those in charge should ask themselves, because Levy is still a player in the process of training.

There are other players who have had their place with EBA, although I do not see them with a gap in this Golden Students who will seek to return to the ACB on the fast track. Pablo Suarez you should find your space. And watch out Pablo González Longarela, whose option in Gold (in another team profile) would see feasible, and who knows if there may be surprises in the figures of Commander Angel or a Hugo Lopez which ends in junior category.

With doubts about who will occupy the bench (uncertainty about the continuity or not of Cuspinera, as read on social networks), what is clear is that the coach must have a formative spirit, know how to manage roles and have experience in a promotion project. It will be another vital piece. The possible template it would handle could be something like the following:

With only four? important reinforcements, would this template be sufficient for promotion? Would you bring tops Larsen / Borovnjak style golds or players with no competition experience? Would it be correct with the bets from outside? Would you sacrifice quarry holes for a more expert base, an off-road exterior or a paint with more sobriety, or would you play it to form and that they have their opportunity after so many years with the quarry philosophy?

Living through spectacular playoffs right now, what is clear for those of us who follow LEB Oro news is that going up is not easy and you need players who know what the issue is about, just as forming a dream squad does not guarantee you success. ascent (views previous experiences).