In the summer of 1997, a group of basketball enthusiasts decided to create the Navia Basketball Club with the idea of taking advantage of the raw material that arose from a small population, but in which basketball was breathed on all four sides. Almost 25 years later, CBN is one of the benchmarks in Asturias for its excellent quarry work that has yielded multiple results in the form of titles and a large number of players of the highest level.
Javi Menéndez (CB Benicarló), José Antonio López (Logrobasket), Mario Méndez (Oviedo Basketball) or Charly Suárez and Iago Fernández (Gijón Basket) have two things in common: playing in FEB leagues and having left the inexhaustible quarry of the western club . This season the CBN has 11 teams that bring together a hundred basketball players. The historical figures of the blue club indicate two titles of 1ª Autonómica (2007 and 2008) and another of 1ª Nacional (2009), in addition to a couple of participations in promotion phases to the EBA League for its first men’s team. In addition, 11 Asturias championships of various categories and 34 players who have been called up with Asturian teams. The most recent milestones are the arrival of the calls with Spanish teams, such as that of María García with the children’s team this summer or that of Andy Huelves with the cadet for next December.
Borja Fernández-Acero, president of CB Navia, highlights the quarry philosophy that is carried out, a brand of the house: «There is no other way of working because of the geographical location, but on the other hand it is what we like”. A work to which Roberto Blanco, former player and sports coordinator since 2006, gives “a special value.”
Enter the conversation Charly Díaz, current head of the men’s first team and 3 other youth teams. The Sierense coach arrived in his fifth season at a club where he was convinced by his project and the good working conditions it offered him.
Asked about the keys to the good results obtained, Charly highlights two aspects: “On the one hand, the good coaches who work at the club and, on the other hand, the number of hours they train at the club.” For example, the female juvenile directed by Díaz himself trains 8 hours a week.
A name attached to the CBN for 21 years is Pablo González. Known as ‘Peif’, he has been living in Navia since he was 5 years old, and came to the club because of his father’s involvement. At 32 years old, this Primary school teacher who continues to be a pillar of the first team, recognizes that the Naviego club has both the bad and the good of being from a town: «We have few children but more resources within our reach, less competition and many tracks to be able to train ».
For Andrea González, forward who currently plays for the Peleteiro de 1ª Nacional Femenina, the CBN will always be his other family. After 11 campaigns defending the blue shirt, “it is another house you can always return to,” confesses the Journalism and Audiovisual Communication student.
Currently working on various acts that serve as a celebration for such a special anniversary. A documentary is being prepared under the direction of Jorge Carbajales, which will be presented on December 26 at the Teatro Fantasio in the town of Naviega. Likewise, at the end of the season an exhibition will be organized at the Casino where objects, kits, trophies and photographs will be collected, which serve as a summary of all these years and where the most important milestones in the history of the club are reflected. It is also intended to organize a special match. There are still many objectives to be met, although Peif sets his sights on one of them: “That there is a team in all categories, both male and female.”
.
