Facundo Murias continues to add experience in Mexican lands. “Colo”, as everyone knows him, is currently in the city of Xalapa, as assistant to Francisco “Paco” Olmos Hernández, head coach of the Halcones team. Recently, they climbed to the podium of the Basketball Champions League Americas by finishing in third place, being quite an achievement for teams from Mexico in this competition since the new format was implemented.
Likewise, the Juninense did not forget his roots and valued the effort made by our city’s teams to remain in the three main categories of national basketball.
At the beginning of the talk, in dialogue with the D1470 program, which is broadcast on LT20 Radio Junín, from Monday to Friday, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Murias analyzed the participation in the BCL with the Xalapa team.
“The BCL was something very nice, we came back very happy. For Mexicans it is a little more complicated because it is a time in the year when they are inactive. Teams are prepared with players from other institutions to play only in this competition. Not being in rhythm and playing so little per month is a disadvantage. Facing Flamengo is never easier, especially when they come with rhythm. “It was the first time that a Mexican team was able to get on the podium with this new format.”
He then said that “now we are putting together the team because the preseason begins on June 3 and the Mexican League begins in July. “We are putting together a team with the intention of fighting for the championship.”
Along the same lines, Murias said that “the heads of the owners give priority to the local league, they put on quite a show. This year the league became a little longer, with more than 30 games in the regular phase. In Mexico it happens that there are three leagues, there are more all year round but the top league is the one that can put teams in the BCL. Now that the European leagues are ending, many foreigners come to Mexico. It’s good that there is basketball all the time.”
Regarding the possibility of identifying the players with the institutions, “Paco” Olmos’ assistant indicated that “there are players who stay for a long time, but year after year the teams are renewed a lot. This year the League increased the number of foreign players to eight. Some clubs that have only one tournament operate only five months a year and some have no training. It is not so simple to deal with the sense of belonging.”
At the same time, he differentiated his Halcones team, saying that “it has an academy, it plays the women’s league, the men’s league. The academy is made up of 300 kids, they have a sense of belonging and even more so because they experience basketball a lot. It has a rich history and something very crazy happened to me with a fan. He came and told me ‘you are the second Argentine in Halcones, the first was “Che” García, as you carry history very present. 3 years ago he returned again, after a break. Basketball is played here, the “Nido” which is the stadium is one of the most difficult courts. The people are very loving and structurally the property is one of the best in the country. Everything is very organized, for my part I am very grateful. I faced them before and now I can enjoy them. “I have been in this place for seven months and if everything goes well, I will be here until the end of the year.”
In relation to the next upcoming tournament, the former Juninense Cyclist stated that “there will be 18 teams in total. The favorites are Fuerza Regia, Bees is always tough, Halcones is among the favorites. It will be a very competitive League, there are several new teams. From the outset he made Fernando Duró official as coach and you automatically know that he will be a very difficult opponent. We are seeing a lot of players, with many hours on the computer and trying to put together the best team possible. There will surely be Argentine players, I still don’t know who but the Argentine player is always welcome. Both the women’s and men’s leagues generally have national players.”
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH “PACO”
Murias is the assistant of Francisco “Paco” Olmos Hernández, a historic Spanish coach with a great history of titles. Regarding this possibility that is presented to him, “Colo” said that “it is historic, I always saw it on television in the Spanish league. He is a work obsessive, he is in every detail. He wants everything to go well, he demands at the level that he is. We have many hours of work, analyzing rivals and studying ourselves. He is a great worker and a good person. Working with people like that makes you grow. Being able to chat, debate, discuss, is something that I am really enjoying.”
ASSISTANT, NOT COACH
“I am very clear that I am still young for the coaching position. Although I have been there for 15 seasons, between coach and assistant, I have to be in the best possible option that makes me grow. I have no despair and I enjoy both functions. I am 32 years old, I am still young for the position of coach in these places and I take it calmly. I work a lot on psychology, with a psychologist. What I have to do is continue adding experience, I am clear about that. I learn from the good things and the bad. Last year was atypical, I went through all the experiences that a coach can go through. I don’t plan to put a label on myself, because I don’t think it’s necessary. “I am taking advantage of this month to train, I study and I am improving my English,” he said about the role he currently occupies.
ROLE OF THE ASSISTANT
“The role of assistant depends a lot on the coach you get and the place they give you. The assistant sees everything, the player who is angry, the one who is happy. He sees when the coach is wrong, when he is right, for the simple reason that we are 2000 revolutions less compared to the coach and the players. The assistant has to contribute to the team, regardless of the tactical part. In my experience I try to be calm and cold. One also accelerates but being calm I can select how to contribute and that is what I tried and what I have tried for so many years,” Murias explained.
HIS LOOK ON JUNINENSE BASKETBALL
Before ending the interview, “Colo” reflected on the current state of basketball in our city, even though he was in Mexico.
“Junín basketball is a miracle. Teams with few resources doing a lot, all the time. A city of 100 thousand inhabitants, with four teams playing at a professional level. One in the first division, another in the second division and the other two in the third division, which is super competitive. I try to watch Los Indios and San Martín, because I like it. It’s a miracle, both the clubs and the people. Junín basketball must be taken care of. I left there and I am a pure consumer of Juninense basketball. People have to collaborate to sustain them. With the economic context that exists, that they can survive is a miracle. Everyone should enjoy the basketball in Junín. Cyclist, with much fewer weapons, competed. Argentine battling as always alongside Adrián (Capelli) and seeing how they manage to fight against bigger budget rivals.
The same is true for San Martín and Los Indios, neighborhood teams playing in the Federal League against Belgrano or Regatas, who had a past in the National League and have star players. We all have to take care of it and support it. I hope it stays like this forever. All of us from Junin are proud to say that we started from there.”
YOUNG COACHES
In the end, Murias spoke about a great group of young coaches, including Maximiliano Tamburini, former player and current coach of Los Indios in the Federal League.
“I see Maxi (Tamburini) very well. I have a great relationship with him, I knew that when you no longer enjoy it, the most coherent thing you can do is to step aside. He, in that stop enjoying himself as a player, finds and sees himself as a coach. The passion that he puts into it is continually studied and trained. Welcome to all those who are coaches, with desire and passion. Today it is Maxi (Tamburini), but in the future it could be others. There are a lot of guys starting out like Juani Fernández, Rodrigo Barbagelatta, Martín Castellazzi in Unión, among others. All the young people who come eagerly make me very happy. “That makes us all better.”
2024-05-11 14:00:51
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