The return of David Cubillán to Trotamundos de Carabobo for the 2024 Professional Basketball Super League (SPB) has excited the fans, as he profiles them as a clear favorite for the title, at least that is how his coach Hermis Peñaloza understands it.
With a world-class quintet, Trotamundos became champion in 2022, in the first edition of the SPB. David Cubillán, Néstor Colmenares, Jhornan Zamora and Miguel Ruiz made that team invincible, threatening to begin a new hegemony. But then one rule changed everything.
The SPB established the “Elite Players” Rule for athletes who had played 30 or more minutes with the national team in FIBA competitions during the 2021/2022 period. A regulation that, seeking greater parity in the competition, somehow equalized them with the imported players, forcing teams to have only five players with those characteristics.
Because of that ordinance, Miguel Ruíz ended up in Panteras de Miranda and David Cubillán in Guaiqueríes de Margarita. Trotamundos could also have been one of the strongest teams in the league, but they remained in the Western Conference Finals, losing to Guaros de Lara. Something was missing.
2024 a new opportunity
For the new contest, which begins on May 1, the “Elite Players” Rule has disappeared and Trotamundos has made its first move: bringing back David Cubillán. That hiring, and the permanence of Néstor Colmenares, make “Chino” Peñaloza feel confident.
“We are reinforced, more united than ever to go for the goal… With (David) Cubilán we are complete again, he is Trotamundos de Carabobo, he is the true pilot, the driver of the “Blue Express”, considered the coach, who already He took the reins of Trotamundos in the 2021 SPB Cup.
“He and Néstor, who is in excellent physical shape, give me all the confidence to take on this new challenge,” said the former player, who played seven seasons with the “Blue Express” between 1996 and 2002.
Read also: Pirates of La Guaira adds young talent to their ranks
Trotamundos also once again trusts Elvis Baez and Donta Smith for the 2024 season, two men that “Chino” Peñaloza knows well and believes are two immovable in the Carabobeño game scheme.
“Elvis is a player who helps us a lot, I think he does not receive the prominence he deserves because he is really very important for the team. And well Donta, who is just another Venezuelan, we already know what he can do. “I feel very safe,” the coach reiterated.
Furthermore, in the Criollos Trotamundos Draft he was able to acquire the services of Heldrin Guillent and Leinfer Montes De Oca, 24 and 28 years old, respectively. Incorporations that in the coach’s opinion will help a lot, adding depth.
The Blue Expreso is part of Group 1 along with Brillantes del Zulia, Broncos de Caracas, Panteras de Miranda, Gladiadores de Anzoátegui, Llaneros de Guárico, Pioneros del Ávila, Spartans Distrito Caital and Toros de Aragua.
2024-05-01 02:14:56
#Peñaloza #Cubillán #complete
