Mario Milanesio, his return to basketball as DT and the moment of Athens

With the return of Mario Milanesio to the technical leadership, not only the university basketball will take precedence in the coming season, but also its presence will grace the competition that surrounds the local Tournament of the Cordobesa Association.

After a break of a year and a half in the activity, “el Loco” gave the “Yes” to the “studious” leadership, which this year has him again as head coach of the first division and the U19 category . “There is a personal friendship with him, I asked him to come back and he gave us the pleasure. For us it is a luxury to have him”, Gustavo Villalba, one of the highest references in basketball of the “U”, proudly acknowledges.

It was precisely the La Lomita club that at the beginning of 2015 opened the doors for him to direct again, a year after a blood infection (septicaemia) left him on the verge of death in January 2014. “It will be that up They still don’t love me, that’s why they left me here for a while longer,” he says with a laugh to MundoD Marcelo’s older brother.

Moved to a place far from the city, with a calm tone, paused phrases and with a distant profile of that explosive player who put together shots in less than the blink of an eye, Mario admits that last year he had little desire to direct, “but he always I was linked to basketball in one way or another. That’s why I made the decision to continue.”

Before delving into the answers and as an introductory phrase, one of the great idols that Athens had in its glory days makes it clear that at 59 he is “very well”, despite the fact that he still has to lose a few kilos. as he says. “I got into everything and led a sedentary life. But three months ago I weighed 120 kilos and I’ve already lost 20. I’m not telling you to reach the 90 I had when I played, but I’ll settle for 95″, admits who was the last coach to give the Greeks an international title, how was the obtaining of the 2004 South American League in Brazil.

How did you come back?

–Despite spending a lifetime in basketball, half that I had distanced myself a bit from the activity in the last year and a half. But Gustavo (Villalba), more than a leader, he is a friend, enthused me again and I have been training the boys of the club for 15 days to direct them at the local.

–You are still linked to what you love so much…

-Of course. Everything I did in life and what I am is thanks to basketball. I owe him almost everything. I don’t know what would have become of the Milanesios. So I tell you. That is something we talk about after dinner. What would have become of our destiny. But that’s how it is.

–What is the idea or the project in the “U”?

–Number one is to promote activity in the club. Afterwards, the sporting objective is to move up from the A1 category in which we are to A. But always with the objective of training players. It’s something we did in other years, where we encourage kids who are playing in other categories today, even in League A. They are always kids from the club plus some who are hanging around, because you have to work and move to get players because as soon as You get a good one, you strengthen it, a club takes it and you start from scratch again. That bothers you a lot. The system allows them to pay for the pass and you don’t even know they’re leaving. The player is free in basketball and does not pay training fees. You break the fret putting things together and when you get a couple of spicy guys they take it to you. But hey, it’s like that for everyone.

–How do you live this role where you not only direct but also form?

–The truth is that I feel very good in these types of places where I can transmit basketball, teach, empower players. It is what personally fills me. Beyond whatever category it is. The maximum is the League, it is true, but there are many competitions below that make you feel very good. I feel very well. What’s more, I don’t know if I would dare to tell you that better than the league, is forging boys, watching them grow, later empowering themselves and making a leap. It’s something very nice personally. All this experience had never lived. My career was embedded in the National League and I never got out of there. And my experience within the local basketball has filled me with satisfaction in a lot of things. And it is a bit the reason why I am back in the U.

–Does the “U” have the idea of ​​projection?

–I’m going to take you to what León Najnudel said at the time, ‘the league is not for those who want but for those who can’ and the world moves for money. And in any category that you want to go up a step, you have to have a base of money that strengthens you and so that you can do it. So there is a lot ahead in the “U” if we want to take a leap and compete at other levels. But it is not unreasonable either, nor are we far away. But the goal is to try to move up and play against the best next year and then see what higher category we can fit into.

–Moving locally was another world for you…

-Yeah. That is why I am extremely grateful for this club. It’s a fantastic club, not only for basketball but in general. They have about three thousand federated athletes, which is no small thing. It is a huge club. In 2014, after my illness, the club that opened the doors for me to get back into basketball was “U”. I was able to direct again and, with my way of thinking, transmit and teach basketball at any level. And that fills me up. I joined the “U” and began to discover things, meet people, another category outside the National League, which is where I always moved. I had never handled myself in the local tournament in Córdoba, which is very strong.

–Doesn’t it cross your mind to direct other categories?

-No. I was in Athens, which is something else, it is another level, it is another pressure, it is another circumstance. And I had the feeling that yes, it’s good, but from what? It may be economic, but it’s an endless race, it’s a terrible competition between coaches… and well, there are things that were out there things that did not close me and, beyond being passionate about basketball, it was difficult for me to adapt one hundred percent. Then the disease came and then the “U” opened the doors for me. Not being in the National League is not something that I would go out of my way to come back. I am very calm, very comfortable with what I do and I would tell you that I am happy at the moment that I am.

–And luckily the disease was left behind…

Luckily yes. It was a very difficult situation, but it leaves you with absolutely no consequences beyond the great scare. Because it was a terrible moment. But that’s it, I’m inserted again. It looks like they didn’t want me upstairs and they said okay, we’re going to have it a little longer here (laughs).

–Are you breaking out the vice with some picadito?

-No. I am doing absolutely nothing. It’s hard for me physically, I really enjoyed my time as a player. I think there is nothing more beautiful than being a player. I was lucky to have achieved many things as such. But I don’t miss it, you’re already big, your head tells you one thing and physically you can’t do it, you can’t do anything. And when you played at a high level those things, instead of improving you, they throw you back and say what I’m doing here (laughs)… I repeat, I’m happy forming players, building teams, competing and trying to enhance what I have. It’s nice to be able to do this…

–Are you seeing Athens, the club of your loves?

–I can’t see it because it is difficult to follow it, but I am aware that the situation is not comfortable. Nobody imagined and no basketball establishment, be it a leader, player or journalist, wants to see him in the situation he is in. But I think he has many chances to save himself sportingly. And then rethink some things. Because this is not a topic this year, Athens has not been well for several years and something must be happening internally. But I don’t get involved. I am far away and commenting from afar on that is not valid. If I wanted to give a more accurate opinion, I would have to be inside. But I think there are things that will have to change because it is not the Athens that we all want to see. That happens to me and I estimate that it happens to all the players who have passed through the club. It’s not nice to see him last and fighting for relegation. Let’s hope there’s news from this experience and for God’s sake! I don’t want Athens to go down. He has great sporting chances to get away but I think that later he will have to rethink many things.

In the farewell, the “Crazy” told how he spends his days away from the activity, “I am very well and very calm” and straight away he tells that he has been living in Villa Allende for a year and a half. “I live next to my mother and my sister. It is something that we had raised and luckily we were able to materialize it. We see each other every day, just like my nieces. We are in a nice family spot.”

–How do you live away from the hustle and bustle?

–I totally enjoy that place and those quiet moments. They make me feel very good and very comfortable. I take out a deck chair and start drinking mate in the patio, something that in the city was complicated. Here is something else.