Institute Coach Lucas Victoriano Makes History with South American Basketball League Title Win

Lucas Victoriano continues to make history at the Institute. The Gloria coach guided the Alta Córdoba team to its first international consecration, achieving the title in the South American Basketball League this Sunday. In the final, the albirrojos beat Titanes de Barranquilla (who came undefeated into this definition) by 81-72, after reacting and playing a high-flying second half.

And it is no small detail that the Institute achieved this consecration with a practically new team and in the middle of the construction stage: “With the coaching staff we set out this year to diagram something similar to what we had built not only at the Institute, but also in Regatas. , which was to put together a competitive team. We were searching a lot in a market that was really difficult, but we were able to find a group of players who were hungry and who were able to show, especially in the second half (of the final against Titanes) that what we needed was to make it, because in the defensively we were good,” the coach told DSports, just after the final.

And he added: “We continued defending as we did throughout the tournament and, when the rim opened for us, it was an incredible second half. I am very happy for all the staff for their work. This is a practically new team and there was a lot of work to do. I really didn’t think I would be so good at this point in the year and I’m very happy with how we worked.”

When highlighting the virtues of his team, he highlighted: “This is a team that asks of you. Since we met in the preseason he was asking for more and more. We trained a lot and they wanted more. And that motivated me. We had a leadership deficiency in the offensive sense and that, luckily, was found. We knew that the two foreigners needed time to adapt, we already know Mauro (Cosolito), Javier Saiz had another connection in San Martín (in Corrientes), Nicolás Pomilo had another role in Platense… We had to put the pieces together and The truth is that it turned out great for us, especially the second half… Seeing how the team played, it is wonderful.”

Instituto did not start this South American League as a candidate. There was a desire, but the favoritism seemed to lie elsewhere. “We believed. I left Córdoba telling the president that we were going to be champions and I think he didn’t believe me. Later we are going to ask him, but I think he didn’t think… There is always talk of a wish, of a pretension, but I am very ambitious, very optimistic… Maybe that is why he didn’t believe me.”

Lucas VIctoriano achieved his fourth title as an Institute coach and gave Gloria its first international title with the South American League. (Fiba Americas Press)

Then, he developed the process: “But during the tournament the truth is that we did it exceptionally. This is the fifth game in a week in a dubious format. It’s the fifth game in a week and yet no one complained. The physical trainer and the kinesiologist hardly slept… And the assistants making videos for the next day… It is a joint effort that I really love being crowned like this. I thank you all for your trust in me for renewing me in the club, for loving me, for how you show it to me, and I am eternally grateful to my coaching staff. They are phenomena… And, obviously, my players.”

For Victoriano, it is his fourth title at the Institute. And he reviewed: “It’s incredible in my young career as a coach. I already played in the final of the South American League with ( Estudiantes de) Concordia, which was not given to us. Now this was given to me so I could have revenge. We did a great job in Corrientes and the titles arrived at the Institute. I can’t ask for much more from the profession. I’m loving it and I hope we continue to grow and continue achieving things because, when you start winning, it’s a blind step of emotions. So, you always want it to happen… I know it’s not easy, but I’m very happy to have won this National League as a player and as a coach, and now the South American League as a player and now as a coach. It’s like it closes everything. I’m going to try now to assimilate it quickly and, knowing me, I’m going to start thinking about Platense.”

2023-12-04 03:21:57
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