Getting to know Group D of the BCL Americas: Franca, Obras, UdeC

MIAMI (United States) – THe fourth season of Basketball Champions League Americas’ Group D hosts Franca (BRA), Obras (ARG) and UdeC (CHI). Let’s see how the teams are looking ahead of tip-off.

 Franca (BRA)

Franca return to the continental tournament as the current monarch of the NBB of Brazil. At the international level, they have already been successful in regional competitions such as South American and Pan-American club events, more recently grabbing the Liga Sudamericana title in 2018. They are currently undefeated in the NBB with a 12-0 record.

Participations (counting 2022-23): 3
Franca did not participate in the previous season, so this will be their third performance. In their two previous contests they were able to pass the Group Stage but not beyond the Quarter-finals.

Coach: Helinho Garcia
Son of the legendary former coach Hélio Rubens, he has followed in his father's footsteps at the same club where he also excelled in his time as a player. He took the reins of the team in 2016 and with him at the helm the team won a São Paulo championship, a Super 8 Cup and the Liga Sudamericana and NBB titles.

Players for the 2022-23 season
Santiago Scala
Georginho De Paula
Reynan Santos
David Jackson
Paulo Barbosa
Jhonatan Dos Santos
Marcio Santos
Eduardo Elevi
Felipe Nascimento
Nathan Fernandes
Lucas Dias
Lucas Mariano
Joao De Almeida
Vítor Farias

Perspective
They have quite the squad to aspire to reign Season 4. BCL Americas dominance is one of the great objectives of the club, which in recent years has been able to win practically all the titles it has played, with the exception of this one. They’ll have David Jackson back, and Georginho, Lucas Dias and Lucas Mariano who have been excellent. However, they will also have to cover for Jhonatan Luz's recent injury.

 Obras (ARG)

Obras have been doing fantastic in the Argentine league with a record of 12-3, so they will arrive in Season 4 in pretty good shape. A contrast to their previous season in which they finished in 15th place in their national league. In its history, the club has a South American League title in the 2011 season.

Participations (counting 2022-23): 3
This will be Obras’ third consecutive campaign in the Basketball Champions League Americas. On their two previous occasions they have not been able to get past the Group Phase.

Coach: Gregorio Martinez
Martinez, the current Argentina's senior women's national team head coach, came to the organization during the previous season. Martinez coached the 2017-18 and 2019-20 seasons, earning two National League playoff berths and a Super 20 Final 4 in 2018.

Players for the 2022-23 season
Felipe Inyaco
Joaquín Rodríguez
Juan Facundo Del Valle
Emiliano Serres
Luca Valussi
Isaac Copeland
Juan Pablo Venegas
Pedro Barral
Lautaro Berra
Alejo Digón
Matías Von Schmeling
Jeff Solarin
Juan Ignacio Respaud

Perspective
The first objective will be to overcome the Group Phase to improve from previous participations. The club, in recent years, has opted for the development of young players and they have been growing together, and finding chemistry. Rodríguez, Venegas, Berra and company have the leadership of Barral and the new additions have fulfilled their role at the local level.

 UdeC (CHI)

With two consecutive crowns in the main Chilean league and six in their entire history, UdeC has had a clear dominance at the local level. Another sign of their power was when they advanced to the Copa Chile playoffs with a record (8-0). Now they’ll be on the search for transcendence at the international level.

Participations (counting 2022-23): 3
UdeC did not participate in the first edition, but has earned their stripes in the following three. Until now they have not been able to overcome the Group Phase and last year they could not pick up a victory in their six games.

Coach: Cipriano Nunez
Nunez is a benchmark within the club, first as a player and now managing the helm. Of the six titles that UdeC holds in the highest Chilean league, Núñez has been part of five, one on the court (1995) and four on the sidelines (1997, 1998, 2021 and 2022).

Players for the 2022-23 season
Eduardo Marechal
Evandro Arteaga
Kevin Rubio
Diego Silva
Lino Sáez
Sebastián Carrasco
Andrés Domínguez
Derick Machado
Jerry Evans Jr.
Reyshawn Terry

Perspective
The first goal for the Chileans is to at least get past the Group Stage. What comes after that will be all profit for the organization. They will rely on reinforcements from their foreign players, but in order to have any aspirations to the crown, the local teammates need to step up.

FIBA