Photos by Juanjo Cavalcante
The fourth star of Mensana is already part of the history, the celebrations stop for photos with the Cup, friends, family and for the Gymnastics players it is time for reflection. Everyone accumulates a very strong emotional charge, thanks to Mariano Saenz (outgoing manager), frustration over the extra-sporting experiences of recent months, and uncertainty about what will come in the immediate future, since the vast majority will change scenery. . But above all things, the feeling is joy to be crowned with the group.
“All the titles are cute. This is different because since the elections we knew that the project had an end point and we considered winning the tournament and leaving the club with joy”, explained Maximiliano Yanson, recontra champion in the last ten years of Rosario basketball and permanent MVP, except when last season he played in Primera A and was champion there too, securing the two titles (promotion and elite) in consecutive seasons, as Caova had already achieved in 2013 and 2014.
“Caova was a very tough rival, it was not a series to end 3-0, because it is not the difference between the two teams,” acknowledged the runner-up.
For Mariano Junco the disappointment is deeper. As a coach, the organizational load and responsibilities are greater and that is why he lived the season with a plus of tension: “This is all from the boys, from Mariano (Saenz), from the coaching staff. We benched in hard times, because we all had a down moment. We started in January and the year for us was eternal. We got stronger when we understood that we were alone. We came and there was no court to train. It’s a pity that this club, with its long history in the sport, cannot see everything that this group has done”.
“Today we leave this club with joy. We are going to miss him because we enjoyed him a lot. Tomorrow will be another day, everyone will go their own way and it is a pity that Gymnastics has only the memory of this team that did so much for the club”, closed the coach, who along with Suárez, Ettorre, Yanson and the teacher Antonella Quattroqui They were key participants in the multi-champion Atalaya.
Tato Chiana always puts a share of sympathy at the moment even if it is emotional. Once again the intern “gave himself” the match ball to remember his success and left his impressions: “They were two very hard years of matches. The idea was to be competitive and we achieved it, because they were very good seasons at Federal and in both cases the year ended with a local title. Now each one will ‘shoot’ wherever they are called, but for me, who already spent the last cartridges in basketball, it was very nice to be champion. I really wanted to be champion with this team”.
And the very strange obligation to consult each one about the immediate future casts doubts and confirmations, such as Ramiro Iglesias who will analyze the final point, or Andrés Meinero who will not continue in Rosario and may even leave basketball in the background.
The intern missed the year due to injury, but had an incredible recovery to reach the finals: “I am very happy to have been able to help the team. As soon as I was injured there was no prospect of being able to play this year, I thank the doctors, kinesiologists and the teacher, who helped me get there”.
“I think this was my last game in Rosario. I am very happy to have closed with the title. I’m going to make a change in my life, I’m going back to Carlos Pellegrini, but whether I’m playing or not, basketball is part of my life and I’m always going to continue training on a court, ”he said.
Ettorre was another important player for the final but chose to praise his teammates: “Having Andrés was fundamental with all his virtues and Juampi (Evangelis) showed that he is no longer a youth player.”
“There are four titles already, it is something beautiful. We were the best and the key was the group, we are all friends and we will continue to be so. When the elections happened, we decided to continue playing for ourselves, for Mariano, for Nono, Nona and all the people who wanted to see the club well. We wanted to win them for them”, closed the former Regatas, Náutico and Atalaya.
While the U15 Carasatorre climbs the hoop to cut the net, the experienced Ramiro Iglesias enjoys his first local success and takes the time to analyze the eternal chiaroscuro of local basketball: “I was very happy for the group, for returning to Rosario, become champion for the first time. At times it was tedious, but we had a lot of team leaders who helped us get everything going.”
“I don’t know if it’s my last year and surely what I’m going to say could be because I’m older and renegade, but I hope things can be done better. There is a lot to correct in Rosario’s basketball, from respect for the schedules or the courts where the finals were played. I left at 16 and we still have the same mistakes. We continue to be lucky because a Dalpino, a Herrera come out ”, closed Rama.
