After 14 years, Uruguay returns home

MONTEVIDEO (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) – For some it might be business as usual, but Uruguay is living this AmeriCup in a very special manner.

Fourteen years have passed since the Uruguayans last played at home. Their third place in the 2003 South American Championship seems to have been ages ago, especially for a country that many times hosted the best basketball events.

In total, there were 8 South American Championships, 2 Americas Championships, and a FIBA Basketball World Cup played in this small nation of only 3 million inhabitants.

“Playing in Uruguay has always been complicated,” people used to say, and the numbers back that claim. When playing at home, the Charrúas won 6 South American titles, a fourth place in the Americas and seventh place in the FIBA Basketball World Cup.

Their last great victory was in 1995, in the well-remembered Final against Argentina, which ended 89-74. The team lead by Víctor Hugo Beradi and captained by Luis Eduardo Pierri once again reached South America’s highest honor. Capalbo, Losada, Szcygielski, Bouzout, Granger, Moglia, Rivera, Cattivelli, Mayor and Caneiro: these are the names that will go down in the history of that last great feat.

The venue for the event will not be the classic Cilindro Municipal Arena. The site that saw Uruguay bring home three South American championships and was the locality for the 1967 Basketball World Cup caught fire on October 2010 and is undergoing reconstructions. It is expected to be re-inaugurated with a new name, Antel Arena, in mid-2018.

This is the reason why the Peñarol Palace is being renovated to receive Dominican Republic, United States, Panama and, of course, the locals: Uruguay.

Almost 4,500 people are expected to attend each day. For many fans, this will be the opportunity to see their national side in action for the first time; for others, it is a chance to remember what happened with hopes of what is yet to come. The new elimination system allows for the public to feel closer to the National Team, and seeks to bring back a sense of belonging.

“We're a team, we're Uruguay,” is the slogan with which the new directors began their work process. The people have already shown their support during the two friendly matches against Argentina, filling the 1,500 available seats at the Biguá court.

As for the players, it will also be something completely new. The only “survivor” from Uruguay’s third place in the 2003 South American Championship is Esteban Batista. That generation, with Néstor García as coach, was beginning to rebuild. Martín Osimani, Leandro García Morales, Mauricio Aguiar, Emilio Taboada and Esteban Batista were some of the new additions in the process.

Now, under the direction of Marcelo Signorelli, the same road is being traveled. Juan Ducasse, Luciano Parodi, Gonzalo Iglesias, Mauro Zubiaurre and Hernando Cáceres are part of a rebuilding process. Lead by Bruno Fitipaldo, Jayson Granger and Esteban Batista; adding the experience of Sebastián Izaguirre, Nicolás Borsellino, Sebastián Vázquez and Kiril Wachsamann; Uruguay now seek that their public enjoy great conquests once again. The AmeriCup is the first step of a process that aims for more and whose great objective is qualifying for the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup.

FIBA