The revenge of “Che” García: from the controversial departure from the Argentina national team to the abandonment without a World Cup after more than four decades

When Nicolás Laprovíttola missed his last long-range attempt of the night, to try to keep a beacon of hope for the Argentine basketball team, and Andrés Feliz grabbed the rebound in the painted area that not only gave him the Republic victory Dominicana against Argentina in Mar del Plata but also qualifying for the next World Cup, Néstor el Che García raised his arms and started jumping, from one side of the playing field.

There were just over 6 seconds left on the clock, but the story was marked, even if this certainly wasn’t the only reason why the Argentine coach spared nothing in the celebrations.

The fact is that six months after his departure from the Albiceleste team, produced in the midst of a short circuit with the players, he eliminated his former managers, no less than as a guest, from the appointment to be held between August and September of this year in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, and ended Argentina’s 41-year streak of uninterrupted participation in the World Cup.

As the Dominican players hugged each other inside the rectangle, García did the same with his work squad. His wide smile was only interrupted when Pablo Prigioni, his successor in Argentina, greeted him. Which, obliged nobility, returned the gesture with respect.

Then came the most expansive part of her celebration. The 58-year-old coach from Bahia once again threw his arms in the air at the same Islas Malvinas Sports Center where he had imagined achieving the same result tonight, but with the Argentina national team. And he smiled again.

And he was lifted onto a litter by Dominican players, who surrounded him in thanks. On the other hand, those who wore the albiceleste shirts exuded only sadness.

García, one of the most controversial national team coaches in recent years and now the executioner of the last members of the Golden Generation who still defend Argentina, trotted out of the stadium, giving the spotlight to the Dominican basketball players who achieved an historic 79 – 75 for the sport in this part of the planet.

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