Redivo: “Representing my country at my city is the greatest thing that can happen to me”

ARGENTINA (FIBA AmeriCup 2017) - Lucio Redivo, Shooting Guard for the Argentine National Team, tomorrow will play his second official tournament wearing the light blue and white jersey against Venezuela, in the first day of Group B’s participation at the FIBA AmeriCup 2017 at Osvaldo Casanova Stadium. He arrives after a road that began when he was 16-years of age at the Atlético Pacífico. During the recently ended season he played for the local Bahía Basket squad in the most important category in Argentine competition.

“It means a lot to me. It's quite a special moment, especially because I’ll be playing in my city. If someone would've told me that this would happen at some point, I would've said that it was unthinkable and unimaginable. Having the opportunity to represent my country at my hometown is the greatest thing that can happen to me as a player. There’s nothing that can be better than this and I have to try to take all I can from it,” says Lucio, who was bullied when young because he was “skinny” and wasn’t going to “be able to play at the Ascenso Tournament or the Argentine League Tournament,” as he himself shares.

His outstanding development and personal growth, as well as a great sport evolution, transformed Lucio into an example for youths. Scouts from Europe came to see him and were quick to sign him to play at Bilbao Basket for the next Spanish ACB League season, as part of a 2+1 contract.

“I know I have to improve many things and keep on training hard. I still have a lot to learn. I'm living my dream and I must try to focus on the National Team, which is my priority along playing a good tournament. I’ll think of ACB later,” said the Bahia Blanca native who was part of the All-Star Five at the Stanković Basketball Cup that took place in Beijing, China, last year.

Today, the young 23-year old guard with a great shooting ability will play in the Argentine Senior National Team no more and no less than in his hometown to show how wrong all of those who didn't believe in him were. “Everything is a bit strange: having my house nearby, and now being in a hotel while all my family is so close. It’s beautiful that these things happen and I'm trying to make the most of it. I'm very focused on the team.

The Bahiense kept escalating: in the 2015-2016 season under Coach Sebastián Ginóbili's direction, he was selected as Most Improved in the Argentine League. Apart from winning his first games with the Argentines, already in 2016/17, he made 22.1 points with a 35.1% in triples in 8 League of the Americas encounters; 18.9 points in 9 games in the South American League; and 16.9 points in 56 matches in the Argentine League; added to the 37 others that he made while he was at the San Lorenzo de Almagro, who would later be champions of the local competition.

Regarding FIBA AmeriCup 2017 Group B and his team’s debut against Venezuela, he said: “We’ll try to play a good tournament and play the best way possible. We want to be intense, run all the time, and play game after game.”

FIBA