SAN JUAN (FIBA Americas Ordinary Assembly) - FIBA Americas assembled 32 of its national federations in the continent for an Extraordinary Congress and Ordinary Assembly in San Juan, Puerto Rico on Friday and Saturday 16-17 October.

In the Assembly, the Spanish Basketball Coaches Association honored FIBA Americas Basketball Academy Director, Mr Victor Ojeda, for his contributions to coaches throughout the continent.

Ojeda is one of the most significant coaches in both Puerto Rican basketball and internationally. Proponent of a new kind of international basketball, Victor "Vitito" Ojeda coached the Puerto Rico National team in 1978 and has one of the highest winning percentages in the history of Puerto Rican basketball. He is also a member World Association of Basketball Coaches (WABC).

"We have decided to give this award to Victor Ojeda because of his enormous contributions to the education of basketball not only in his beloved Puerto Rico or in the Americas continent, but throughout the world," said Juan Maria Gavalda, President of Spanish Basketball Coaches Association.

"He has been key in the development of coaches in the Americas and his passion can only be used as an example for everybody that truly loves our sport. We wanted to thank him for his great work."

Ojeda has been Director of the FIBA Americas Basketball Academy since 2003, holding clinics to every national federation in the continent.

"I am very grateful for the award as it represents a confirmation that the work that has been carried out by our department throughout the continent has been as successful as we intended from the beginning," said Ojeda.

"My career as coach both nationally and internationally was always geared towards having education as a priority. The goal is to have more prepared professionals in each our national federations and we continue to carry out this mission throughout the continent."

Present at the Assembly and part of the tribute to Ojeda were FIBA President, Mr Horacio Muratore, FIBA Americas President, Mr Usie Richards, FIBA Americas Secretary General Emeritus, Mr Jenaro Marchand and FIBA Regional Director in the Americas, Mr Alberto Garcia. 

FIBA