The Sports Councilor of the Guadalajara City Council, Armengol Engongapresented this morning, together with the president of the Castilla-La Mancha Basketball Federation, José Esteban Gálvezand the president of Guadabasket, Luis Mirandatwo of the great grassroots sports events that the city will host: the UCLM U18 Men’s Cup and the Ribésalat Women’s Cupwhich will be held this coming weekend and the following one, respectively, at the Multipurpose Palace.
Before starting, Engonga had a few words of remembrance for the victims of the train accidents that occurred this week:
“From Guadalajara we send a very strong hug to all the families and we wish a speedy recovery to the injured”he pointed out, while the president of the Castilla-La Mancha Basketball Federation, José Esteban Gálvezrecalled that a minute of silence will be observed in all regional and national matches.
“Guadalajara, today more than ever, is basketball”
The councilor has highlighted the joint push between clubs, the federation and the City Council for Guadalajara to once again host these competitions. “Today we do not just present two tournaments, but we want to influence our idea of linking sport and city. Sport is not what we do in our free time; “Sport is what we are, and Guadalajara, today more than ever, is basketball,” he stated.
Engonga has stressed that both tournaments will be held at the Multipurpose Palace, converted into “the Guadalajara Sports Hall”, and thanked the joint work of Guadabasket and the Federation.
“This happens because there are serious clubs that are committed to these events, because there are federations that want to give visibility to grassroots sport, because there is a youth team, fans and a city that believes in sport. We do not see it as an expense, but as an investment in health, education and coexistence.”
“Guadalajara is a guarantee of success”
For his part, the president of the Castilla-La Mancha Basketball Federation, José Esteban Gálvezhas highlighted the support of the City Council and the role of Guadabasket in promoting grassroots sports. “Holding events in Guadalajara is a guarantee of success. It has the best facilities in the community and a staff that makes everything very easy. And we have a club like Guadalajara Basket, which is a fundamental ally both in the organization of events and in the promotion of grassroots basketball,” he stated.
Regarding the UCLM Cup, Gálvez highlighted the sporting power of the tournament. “We are going to enjoy two very even matchups. They are the four best teams in the community, with players who already compete in higher categories. There is no clear favorite.”
Regarding the women’s Ribésalat Cup, it has highlighted the growing level of women’s basketball in the region, “We will have a confrontation from Extremadura and another from La Mancha that ensures regional presence in the final. I hope it happens like last year and it is a team from Castilla-La Mancha that lifts the trophy,” he concluded.
Two “super attractive” weekends
The president of Guadabasket, Luis Mirandabegan by thanking the institutional support received and explained that this year both tournaments will be organized on consecutive weekends and highlighted the sporting appeal. “For the fan it is a must-see event: the four best junior teams one weekend and the four best First National Women’s teams the next. At the level of players and coaches it is also very important, because it is a preamble to what we will see in the final phases of April”.
Likewise, he highlighted that “the setting of the Multipurpose Palace is incomparable, and having its staff is a guarantee of a job well done.””.
Among the news, announced the live broadcast of all matches through the Guadalajara Basket YouTube channel, as well as the figure of the ambassador proposed by the Federation.
“In Guadalajara we will have Raúl Lázaro and Laura Pras, two players with an impressive career and who embody the values of the sport.”
“In Guadalajara the next two weekends the protagonist will be basketball, and what we have to do is enjoy it both in the stands and on the court,” he concluded.
