The Herreras, a legacy of love for basketball and El Tala – Diario El Ciudadano and the Region

The Herrera brothers and the shield they love. Photos: Juanjo Cavalcante.

When Silvio Herrera was struggling in the painted area, the hoops of El Tala were the most hated in Rosario basketball, a seasoned team that was the protagonist in the ascent, with a fatto team at home with talent and personality, to whom scoring was more complicated than leaving happy a negotiation with the IMF.

Time changed wooden boards for acrylic ones, mutated the mosaic floor into glossy parquet, and the red, white and black cast is a regular protagonist of the local Super League, with recent titles to their credit. The bulging scoreboards on the electronic board contrast with the more austere scoreboards of the ’90s that were sometimes even worn with the caps. But something does not change, the surname Herrera on the list (now digital when possible) of El Tala.

Tomás, Lucas and Manuel followed their family and club destiny and played the ball since they were boys, although the daring Cochabamba street recount that in the way of playing the genes did not weigh so much and the kids have more talent.

In this campaign they had the pleasure of sharing the field in the first of their lifelong team. Lucas’s explosion of talent earned him minutes in the first as a starter, a situation that coincided with the return of Tomás from Calzada and his recovery from injury. And of course, the youngest (of age) grew up and made a place for himself in Juan Pablo Lupo’s rotation. It’s Manuel.

“Going back to El Tala is a great opportunity that has presented itself to me, and I feel very happy. It is a big step to be able to play in the Super League again after several years playing in the promotion”, says Tomás, the eldest: “I am at a stage in which I am settling into the team after several months without being able to play for a knee injury, but totally grateful to my teammates and coaching staff who supported me from day one. It is the club from which I left and lived my best moments”.

“Playing with my brothers is a very nice experience, because they are the people I love the most, and they will always be there for me, as I am for them. Being able to train and enjoy with them on a basketball court doesn’t happen every day, that’s why I want to take advantage of this opportunity”, reflects the 3-4, perhaps the only one who comes close to the family legacy.

One of the jewels of Rosario’s basketball is Lucas, with a resounding appearance and a promising future. You have to enjoy it at home. And he also does it with the bonus of sharing with the family: “The three of us playing together in El Tala is very nice. It is the club in which the three of us started as children. Sharing training sessions and games is something that is cool”.

“Normally the three of us try to help each other, but Tomás, being the oldest, is the one who advises us the most,” explains Lucas, who like his brothers admits that from time to time there is a fight or anger typical of the family relationship. Nothing that doesn’t happen in any brotherly relationship.

“I still have a lot of things to improve, but I’m happy with how the team is playing and I feel very comfortable with them and with the coach. This year I am totally focused on El Tala and trying to compete as much as possible. Then later we will see ”, clarifies about his immediate future the key player of the U19 and starter in the first.

And of course, from below comes Manuel, who was key in the U15 last season and who is about to turn 16, but who is already among the best.

“For me it is nice to play with my brothers since they are the ones I grew up with all my life and I share every moment with them. With Lucas I have been sharing a team in youth teams for several years and with Tomás it is the first year. Forming the top squad is good, it helps me improve because I train with players with a lot of experience”, says the kid, who does not define position: “I like all the positions while I play, but I see myself as more than 3 or 4”. Time will surely tell on that.

The triples fall, El Tala exceeds 100 points again, the floor shines and the hoops are far from being the most hated in local basketball. Herrera drives, feints, fakes and defines pure talent. Same last name, other times, and it’s worth three. Family legacy of love for basketball and the club.

Related