By: PABLO CORMICK

BUENOS AIRES (DIRECTV Liga de las Américas) — “Voy siempre cargando el papel principal (I'm always carrying the main role...)” hears Franco Balbi while he walks on to the court. The phrase comes from “Bailando”, a song by Argentine band Parientes, that the Ferro point guard has chosen to listen to before the games. The playmaker’s musical preferences move toward Argentine rock, with Soda Stereo, Charly García and Luis Alberto Spinetta as his favorite artists.

But he listens to all that music alone, with his earphones on. His teammates, despite his recommendations, prefer other styles. In the locker rooms, Ariel Ramos and Iván Gramajo are the DJs, and choose to listen to trap, with Osuna and Nicky Jam as favorites. “I always tease them because of what they choose, and I try to get them to listen to good music, but they don't listen to me,” Balbi says.

Where there's no doubt that the rhythm is decided by Balbi is at the court. Ferro plays according to their point guard. He is the one who decides when to run and when to play calmly. If the ball has to go near the rim or if it has to go around the perimeter. In short, Balbi is the director of an orchestra that sounds very nice when he's tuned, “like Soda Stereo,” says the rock fan.

The high-performance level that Balbi demonstrated in the first phase of Liga de las Américas, where he was the leader in assists, with an 8.3 average per game, was one of the reasons that took him to be a part of the Argentine National Team in the most recent window of the FIBA Basketball World Cup Americas Qualifiers. Being able to play both games caused him to feel “a really big joy and sense of responsibility to defend the colors of the National Team, to which I tried to contribute the best I could.” In these duels against Uruguay and Paraguay, Balbi was part of Luis Scola's squad, who is a legend of Argentina’s basketball. “Being with Luis makes you grow. Listening and seeing him train helps you a lot,” the Ferro point guard assures.

When he was a kid, Franco admired Marcelo Milanesio, a hero of the National League and Team. “What I liked the most of him was his style, the impression he left when he was playing, and the fun he had. Everything looked easy,” said Balbi about the Atenas de Córdoba idol.

After Milanesio, at the one position of the Argentine National Team began to appear those that would mark history. Since those that led the team to win the gold medal in the Olympic Games in Athens until now, many great point guards such as Juan Ignacio Sánchez, Alejandro Montecchia, Pablo Prigioni and Facundo Campazzo have played in the same spot. Gathering the best features of each of those, Franco Balbi was willing to be the ideal Argentine guard: “Pepe’s head, Pablo’s passes, Puma’s shots, the intensity and legs of Facundo, and the winning mentality of all.” Balbi did not wish to add his own characteristics to that fantasy player, but when questioned, he added a personal touch: “my musical taste.”

Balbi has the talent and the necessary drive to expect more international glow, both with Ferro and the National Team. Because as rock band Redonditos de Ricota say, and Franco uses as his WhatsApp status: “el que abandona no tiene premio (whoever abandons wins no prize).”

FIBA