TALCA (DIRECTV Liga de las Américas) - The relationship between basketball and the Chilean city of Talca is one of a rich history that Club Español has ensured to keep alive for 40 years. Therefore, it's not surprising that this city is one of the places in Chile that prove the most their passion for this sport.

Even though some memorable players such as Manuel Herrera —one of the best in Chile's history— were born there, it was in 1978 when this team was established in the city’s Spanish sector. The following year, the club was one of the founders of Dimayor, the first professional basketball league in Chile. The appearance of good national players created a great team that, non-surprisingly, were champions in 1981.

“The city's people quite quickly started to feel identified with the team and with basketball, even more so when Español won the first national title and most of their players were born in Talca,” remembers Luis Cuerda, a Talca coach who for 33 years presided over Dimayor, whose offices were in the same city.

The people of Talca were greatly supporting the team with an enthusiasm that turned the city’s stadium into a complicated arena for any visitor.

During the 31 years that Español participated in Dimayor —always under the same name— they only achieved the title 1981. They never even got to any other final. However, during this time they became a benchmark for Chilean basketball and a consistent audience favorite for the tournament.

In 2009, political differences arose and caused that some clubs, including Español, leave Dimayor. As a result, the current Liga Nacional was created. The first edition of the tournament was won by the Talca side, who obtained the title once again in 2013 and in the past 2017 edition.

During the conflict, Cerda stepped down from the Dimayor presidency and assumed Español de Talca's, a position that he still holds today.

Another trait of Talca’s club is the family ties that unite several player generations. This means that current assets are descendants of other players that outstood in the past. Pablo Barraza, for example, is Julio Barraza’s nephew. Julio was champion in 1981. At the same time, Pablo is cousin to the Bravo brothers (Francisco and Samuel), and they're all current squad members.

These family names and a few others —like Herrera, Sáez and Morales— united several members of these families in the different stages of Español de Talca.

“Basketball is a tradition in this city thanks to this club. The public supports us although we're a bit down right now, because the campaign in the National League has not been too good this season. We've had problems with injuries and the foreign reinforcements,” Cerda shared.

The president —who’s acknowledged for all his work in favor of Chilean basketball— explained the project they're starting: “We established an alliance with the local government because they support us economically, and now we're called Municipal Español de Talca. We're working on implementing a plan for a basketball school that welcomes many children, because we want to develop players to ensure a logical generational rebuilding. We always include a majority of players from the region, because we want to secure an identity with Talca that endures forever.”