Far away but always near

BUENOS AIRES (Martín Seldes' Brave New World) - Before it started, I really wanted to cover the whole FIBA Americas League and try to watch every game.

I had the idea of walking to the travel agency just around the corner and ask for a couple of plane tickets.

As there’s always four days between the end of one group and the beginning of another one, I would have time to travel from one city to the other one.

While I was talking to the travel agent, I realised I would have to make a big effort in order to get to watch the best continental tournament for clubs in Americas. I could understand why some teams have historically declined the invitation, but I couldn’t agree with them.

My first plane would fly for close to eight hours to cover the 7,200 kilometres between Buenos Aires and Mexico City before I had to jump into a two-hour flight to Cancun.

In Cancun, I could watch an amazing Group A with four teams that were all almost at the same level. Two Mexican teams fighting to defend their homecourt against a Brazilian and an Argentine team.

None of the teams finished the group unbeaten or winless. La Unión de Formosa (ARG) won their first two games but lost to Pioneros de Quintana Roo (MEX). The two advanced to the next round, while Franca (BRA) had to fly back home after an unexpected elimination. Fuerza Regia (MEX) were also eliminated.

A two-hour flight would have taken me back to Mexico City with Caracas as my next destination after five hours on a plane.

Two Argentine sides had to meet two Venezuelan teams to go for the two second round sports on offer in Group B. Obras Sanitarias – the reigning South American champions - and Regatas Corrientes (both ARG) along with Guaros de Lara and Bucaneros de la Guaira (both VEN) are definitively four great teams to watch.

After visiting Cancun and Caracas, I would be tired but happy to watch the best American basketball outside of the NBA.

An early wake-up call would await me so that I could get to Caracas International Airport for an 8AM flight that would get me in San Juan, Puerto Rico for 4:30PM.

Joinville (BRA), Leones de Santo Domingo (DOM), Cocodrilos (VEN) and hosts Capitanes (PUR) would await me in a beautiful stadium in an awesome city. Four teams from four different countries with different playing styles.

Peñarol, the reigning champions in Argentina and former FIBA Americas League champions, refused to play this year’s tournament to prioritise their local league. This controversial decision only contributes to reconsider whether this is the best format for such a great competition.

The FIBA Americas League is played in the following way: the top two teams from each of the four groups of the first phase qualify for the second phase, which is made up of two groups of four teams each.

The top two ranked teams from each of those two groups directly qualifies for the Final Four.

Considering the distances between most of the countries, I have always thought it could be a good idea to organise a two-week tournament with all the teams in one city. Would it be possible to turn into reality?

The four teams that get to play the FIBA Americas League in Brazil would travel fewer hours. That would prevent Leones de Quilpe (CHI), Quimsa (ARG), Uniceub and Bauru (BRA) from feeling so tired after competing in the continental tournament.

A great competition like this, with such great teams, deserves full attention from the media and the best teams. For the time being, that’s not happening.

Martín Seldes

FIBA

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