As is well known by the most knowledgeable of this sport, the Brother Adolfo tournament has been implanted in the Colegio La Salle Montemolín for years, but what not everyone knows is that they are already 50 years of this great sporting event. In normal situations, this 50th anniversary would have taken place in 2021, but due to the coronavirus pandemic and the closure of this type of sporting activity, the tournament could not be held last year leaving both players, coaches and coordinators responsible for organizing this wonderful activity with great sadness even knowing that the right thing was done.
“Great things were expected from this tournament,” he says. Pilar Sicilia, delegate of the second year female junior team. “Many activities and events were planned and planned that were going to touch the hearts of more than one”, she continues explaining. All the basketball lovers at this school were waiting with a great illusion that this 2022 could celebrate the 50th anniversary in conditions. But the pandemic hasn’t gone as well as expected, so this anniversary will have to be pushed back at least another year.
“A lot of money was going to be invested,” he explains. Marina Sancho, coordinator and basketball coach at the La Salle Montemolín Sports Association. “We wanted this year to be remembered in style, since 50 years of holding a tournament without any interruption is not celebrated every day,” adds Marina.
Origins in the 1970s
But like everything, each thing has its beginning, and it is that in the first editions the tournament was not organized as we know today. The tournament began to be held in 1970 and it was done to promote this sport, since in the past in La Salle there were many more football teams. However, it was carried out mainly for the players to enjoy and get out of the routine, to live an experience with the other teams and coaches of the organization.
“It wasn’t that big or spectacular,” he tells us. Jesús Carlos, former player and coach of La Salle Montemolín. “At first it was just a few friendly matches, in which both visiting and local teams were rewarded with almost nothing,” he clarifies, noting that “It was decided to call the tournament Brother Adolfo in future editions, since it was this brother who proposed the idea of holding it”.
“In the early years, there was a great stir. People liked it a lot and they got what they were looking for, more people signed up to play and it has continued like this year after year,” he continues. Undoubtedly we can see that this tournament is to date the longest in all of Aragon, and the first not to be interrupted since its first edition, except for the pandemic happened last year.
unforgettable memories
“Year after year, the editions have been improving and people have been enjoying themselves more”, Jesús Carlos continues to tell us. It is a weekend in which you can find many activities at school: inflatables, games, parties, etc. But without a doubt, everyone’s favorite day is the last one, sunday. That day everyone has a huge expression of happiness on their face. The awards ceremony is held in the pavilion. At this award ceremony, everyone gets their gift, and there is a great popular food where a delicious paella is served.
In recent years, after lunch, thanks to the help of collaborators and companies, a great raffle where they get to exceed the whopping number of more than 100 prizes, including toys, t-shirts or assortments of food. “You remember those moments with great affection,” he tells us. Rubén Alejandreplayer and coach, who ensures that “You get great anecdotes and laughs during those days”.
“It is simply wonderful to see how the tournament evolves as a child, and now as a coach, to see that your players enjoy it as you did,” he says with a laugh. Sergio Guimera. There is no doubt that this pandemic has taken one of the best editions that this tournament was going to witness. We hope that next year can be celebrated in style and that both children and adults enjoy the experiences that have been and will be in this beautiful sport that is so popular at Colegio La Salle Montemolín.
