Star-studded Group C tips-off with four teams all with big chances of advancing to semis

BUENOS AIRES (DIRECTV Americas League 2017) - Group C of the DIRECTV Americas League 2017 begins tonight with the participation of clubs Capitanes de Arecibo (Puerto Rico), Hebraica and Macabi (Uruguay), Bucaneros de La Guaira (Venezuela) and host San Lorenzo (Argentina).

On paper, it is the most competitive series of the Group Phase. All teams have a strong chance to qualify.

Capitanes de Arecibo arrives with the distinction of being the only team to have participated in all editions of the continental competition, making it to the Final Four on two occasions (2010 and 2013). Their current squad has recognizable faces on the international scene such as Renaldo Balkman and David Huertas, as well as veterans of the competition with the team like David Cortés, Alvin Cruz and Angel Alamo. Their weakness rests on facing opposing teams like Hebraica and Macabi and San Lorenzo, that are in full competition rhythm in their national leagues. Capitanes plays in the Baloncesto Superior Nacional of Puerto Rico that starts its season in April. However, their experience is a fundamental piece for the team’s chances of qualifying for the Semifinal Phase, as well as keeping their composure facing in what is sure to be an extremely competitive group in Boedo.

The Uruguayan club Hebraica and Macabi is also full of leading figures of international basketball in the Americas such as Leandro García Morales, Michael Hicks and Jaime Lloreda. They are joined by Uruguay national team players, Luciano Parodi and Sebastián Izaguirre. Hebraica and Macabi had a good run in the DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana 2016, making it to the Semifinal Phase and in which Garcia Morales averaged 23.3 points per game. In their national league, they have a 14-8 record (7-6 in the Regular Phase and 7-2 in the Promotional Group so far), with both Garcia Morales (20.4 points per game) and Parodi (6.7 assists per game) among the leaders of the competition. The team will bet on these 22 games played, their good moment and identity as a unit back in their national league as their strength in this Group C of the DIRECTV League of the Americas 2017.

Bucaneros de La Guaira will be looking for the upset and has a team to achieve it. The Venezuelan club arrived in Buenos Aires with high-caliber players of the likes of Donta Smith, John Cox and veteran point guard Jesus Centeno, as well as North Americans Kris Lang, Jordan Hamilton and Walter Baxley. It is a team that like Capitanes de Arecibo is not active at home, due to the delay of the start of its national league. Their hopes rest in a prolonged preparation period previous to this series and to a nucleus of players with experience in these circumstances of having being called at the last minute to provide instantaneous help to teams in different leagues throughout the world. Their first game will be against the powerful host San Lorenzo and a good performance will be needed in a group in which every game will be of utmost importance.

The host San Lorenzo de Almagro is the favorite this weekend to be in competition, due to being in rhythm in their excellent current national league season and playing at home...but there is no room for underestimating their opponents. Their squad has an important core of experienced players at the international level. Gabriel Deck, Selem Safar, Marcos Mata and Nicolás Aguirre, along with with Jerome Meyinsse (champion of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas and Intercontinental Cup in 2014), Mathias Calfani and Guillermo Díaz, make San Lorenzo an imposing team on both sides of court. They are in the first position of the National League of Argentina with 22-7 record and lead the league in points scored per game with 85.8, as well as points against with 72.1 average. It is a team with an excellent offensive distribution and multiple weapons in the offensive side of the court and discipline on defense, capable of competing and dominating the different lineups that they will face this weekend.

All in all, in this Group C of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas, big games and a dramatic conclusion for the two teams qualifying to the Semifinal Phase, are to be expected.

The full schedule of the competition can be seen here. 

Group A qualified hosts Soles de Mexicali (Mexico) and La Unión de Formosa (Argentina), while last week in Group B Fuerza Regia (Mexico) advanced, along with defending champion Guaros de Lara (Venezuela).

The Liga de las Americas will be played in three phases: Group Stage, Semifinal Phase and Final Four. In the Group Phase the teams have been divided into four (4) groups of four (4) teams each that will play in round-robin format for three (3) days. The best two teams from each group will qualify for the Semifinal Phase.

In the Semifinal Phase, teams will be divided into two (2) groups of four (4) teams each and will play in round-robin format for three (3) days. The best two (2) teams from each Semifinal group will advance to the Final Four, where the Champion of the Americas will be crowned.

The defending champion of the competition is Guaros de Lara (Venezuela).

The Liga de las Americas will be broadcasted in DIRECTV (Americas), Telemundo (Puerto Rico) and livebasketball.tv (subscription required).

For the best coverage of the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017, visit ligamericas.com and our @ligamericas social networks.