Paruguay's basketball world is expanding

ASUNCIÓN (Paraguay) – Mini Basketball and formative categories are the foundation and the future of every national team, and for the Paraguayan Basketball Confederation (CPB, for its Spanish acronym) – affiliated with FIBA since 1947 – they are paramount. The year started with the establishment of a U13 Tournament that now accompanies the Mini and Formative Tournaments.

The Paraguayan capital of Asunción welcomed a total of 4,562 players from the age of 6 to 32 (divided in Mini, Formative and First Division categories in both sexes); there are 72 teams in Mini Basketball, 60 in formative men’s and 32 in the formative category for women. CPB strives to reach cities in the interior and unify concepts to ensure a proper makeup of the national team.

“Clubs in Asunción have stated their interest and next year we're going to incorporate four more. As a Confederation we're thinking about leaving the capital to incentivize Mini Basketball in the interior, in cities like Encarnación, Ciudad del Este, Pilar, Concepción, Pedro Juan and Caaguazú. They have basketball and we see the need to be closely there and foster an organized growth that is united and equal, and that we all speak the same language to strengthen our kids and prepare them for the future,” said to FIBA.basketball Alejandro Morassi, Vice-President of the Paraguayan Basketball Confederation, and who also oversees the Mini Basketball categories.

The Mini Basketball and Formative games have a special tournament that’s played every weekend, and they practice during the week. Now CPB has added the U13 Tournament, where kids can play with other rules and under different conditions, in an attempt at getting closer to learning basketball in the formative ages.

“We incorporated this year as a transition between the Mini and Formative categories. The U13 category is where kids stop playing Mini with small rims and balls and without referees. This is a highly competitive and refereed category, where they all play against each other in a scored tournament. We think that it's the hinge category for kids that are leaving Mini and now they have a more relaxed transition to a competitive category where everyone must play. Like this we get closer to other South American countries and we become aligned with other championships. We need to polish some aspects, but we believe that this will render good results in the long run,” said the Paraguayan directive.

CPB organizes tournaments for the U15, U17 and U19 categories in formative stages. They actively play every week, and all clubs have the possibilities of reinforcing their teams with players from the interior. This is a tournament that is played from March to October. The best four clubs play against other four clubs in the interior in a Super 8 tournament in the end of the year. This is a tournament that allows CPB to integrate tournaments in the capital and see kids from the interior and invite them to participate within their corresponding cities. The U21 category is still under wraps, but the CPB and its President, Santiago Ochipinti, are trying to form it during his term.

“The results with the kids are very good; we need to keep placing our hopes on them, our money, our time, and the capacity of the clubs’ coaches. Competing, having a permanent coach, bringing the best coaches for formative stages, continue Operativo Altura, and having permanent selections since the 12 years of age. This year, in the Metro tournament, each team must have 7 in minors and 5 in the National League,” said the CPB President.

CPB is also getting ready in October for the Mini Basketball week, and to foster an international tournament. It’ll be an active basketball week that will welcome clubs from the interior, the capital and some international guests.

“We're aware that the work is in the foundations, in the clubs, and that coaches must train according to each category and age to be able to reach the objectives and that the kids can develop their corresponding capabilities,” said Morassi. He also assured: “There’s a permanent exchange, and that's a very positive aspect for the small basketball world of Paraguay, that’s opening up to go overseas and is also inviting important clubs from other countries like Argentina and Brazil to exchange basketball ideas – and that's something that’s very positive for us.”

“Players of the men’s and women’s categories, like Javier Martínez and Paola Ferrari, and of great experience, offer workshops every year and transmit everything they've learned in their career. Like this they share, in some way or another, everything they know. They're a source of inspiration and motivation for the young players that want to follow that path,” he added.

Martínez is one of the outstanding players of the Paraguayan national team and oversees the Mini Basketball (U6 to U13) for both sexes in Asunción’s Club Olimpia. He's also preparing the ninth edition of their Training Campus, which will take place from June 15 to 17 in the club’s facilities and will welcome girls and boys from the ages of 7 to 18. This Campus without a doubt strengthens both the athletic and personal capabilities of the children of the Guaraní nation.

“We've already had 8 successful editions of Campus. Once the ninth concludes in Asunción, the idea is to travel throughout the country, to the places that expressed interest in hosting Campus. We train for 3 days, with 3 hours for Mini Basketball (7 to 12 years) and 3 hours for formative (categories). There’ll also be Argentine coaches in the training sessions, and we have the idea of having a Psychology talk. I want to give a beautiful touch to this edition of Campus,” said Martínez to FIBA.basketball.

Paraguay have been participating for four years in international tournaments organized by the South American Basketball Confederation (CONSUBASQUET, for its Spanish acronym). For CPB this is the way to compare their level to their neighboring countries and see how they are internationally. “There are limitations,” said the Vice-President, “but there are hopes of improving.”

“The work must be non-stop, and we hope to create a staff of coaches for a permanent team, to keep scouting players and stewarding the process. In a future we must see results, but we're aware that it's not an easy task. Other countries are doing it with great success, but we must try to occupy a significant spot in the South American ranking, to motivate kids and show them that basketball and sports are all about sharing, receiving, creating friendships and having a healthy life. Like this we're going to be setting a work philosophy that we believe is the path we must follow,” concluded the directive that was elected this year.

FIBA