Institute: A team that faced their own demons and supported a former Golden Generation for glory

The Instituto de Córdoba won the National Basketball League for the first time in its history against Quimsa 85-84 in a end not suitable for heart patients. The last ball was in the hands of Martín Cuello, who broke his wrist without pressure and put the result in his favor. Then there were two final seconds, paralyzing several hearts, and the consecrating chicharrazo.

In that match, at the Ciudad de Santiago del Estero stadium, there were more than 5,000 souls cheering for the Merger. The mighty Quimsa had a foreign presence. A very large budget compared to his rival. He played at home and was the favorite after coming as a leader in the regular season.

But the Glory He followed his script. Nicola Romano, Martino Neck and Tayavek Gallizzi were the keys to this historic championship. All three dominated the painted areas. They became strong on the defensive, took away the effectiveness of the rival and lined up behind the idea of ​​their mentor: Luca Vittoriano. Separate paragraph for this man.

The former point guard was part of the Golden Generation and, in addition to giving the Institute the first tournament in its history, he became the first person to be a National League champion as a player and as a manager. Inside the parquet, with the Olimpia de Venado Tuerto shirt in the 1995-96 season. Across the red line, with the Alta Córdoba complex.

After the celebrations, the Tucuman player came over to talk to the press and said about the match: “We had a lot of personality. It wasn’t easy to play here today. We have been doing a job since the beginning of the season where we did not change. nothing. We defend the same and attack the same We do not adapt to any opponent “.

Questioned by this medium about his players, the new champion said: “I am very proud to have such a team. Because they knew from the beginning the philosophy they would follow and they have made it happen. And luckily today we were able to celebrate it”.

leave everything for passion

Victoriano is the first former Golden Generation player to become a champion as a manager. By the way, he added: “They send it to me. But I don’t like individual awards. This is teamwork. I have the pleasure of having a huge team behind me. Medical staff, managers. The award is for everyone because there are some. there are many people involved “.

Across the ocean is his wife, Paula Palomares Valiente, a former basketball player; and his daughter, Charlotte. He communicates with both of them daily via video calls. He had to leave his family more than 10 thousand kilometers away for a dream. A dream that is coming true.

“This award is for them,” he confessed to this reporter. “He said ‘bring me the cup’. She is tough because I spend a lot of time without seeing her pursue this passion. Today the first thing I remember is her. The effort we make is impressive, “she added.

Immediately, the 44-year-old former base reminded his coaches: “The players have had a difficult time. Difficult. To get back together you need to have a lot of personality and they did it.” The Instituto did not have an easy regular season. They had to overcome many obstacles. Internal crises, injuries, operations and covid-19 situations.

A final for the heart attack

Tayavek Gallizzione of the leaders of the champion team said: “Both teams are very good and we can’t give anything away. The team that relaxed, both in attack and in defense, would have had a hard time. Winning a match against Quimsa must be very exhausting. . It was the final for the heart attack. Very exciting. But this game I think is proof of what the series was. “

“This has been a very difficult season for us. We have been deadly as a team throughout the league, because we could have lost to anyone. We lost against many teams and failed to score that presence that Quimsa has achieved. Having had a bad time during the season has served us well. Biting through mud all season gave us a boost. Unlike Quimsa, who only imposed names, we don’t, “he said.

It cost the santafesino a duel in particular, the one he had against the American Eric Anderson, figure of Quimsa. “In these playoffs there was one pin harder than the other and it couldn’t come loose. In fact in the third game I tried to control my energy and I had a bad period against Anderson and this frustrated me a lot. But there my teammates aimed a lot at me, “he confessed. That comparison Merger finished 91-70 at Ángel Sandrín.

Face adversity

To put the series 2-2, Institute needed a key man. Nicola Romano. The 34-year-old has just won his third Argentine title. During the regular season he was the most valuable player of the tournament and in the Play-off series he was also instrumental.

“We knew this group was for this kind of situation. It’s been a tough year, but we knew how to face adversity and that made us strong and today it happened. We were very united to win “, she confessed on the court after celebrating with her teammates.

When asked about the problems they had to face, he replied: “Mainly the issue of covid. There have been a lot of injuries throughout the year. All the players were only able to get together three games before the Play-offs. When the team is being together, we saw that it would be a tough team. “

Regarding his coach, he did not keep his praise: “Lucas from the first moment was one more. The distance that the coach puts us was not there. From the first moment he was one more and that is why now we celebrate him with him as if he were one more “.

Coach Lucas Victoriano is the head of this project started a year ago. From that moment the team obtained the Super 20 of 2021 and the National League 2022. Inside the field they are joined by the aforementioned Gallizzi and Romano, but another proper name ranks among the three most important of the team.

Finals MVP: Martin Collo. Ramos Mejía’s man scored the two free kicks that gave the Cordoba team victory as well as 21 points and 6 rebounds.

“Happy for winning the title. For the club and for the support. It was us all game. This is the true identity of the team and that is why we won the game. This is a dream. Ever since I started playing basketball, I’ve been dreaming of this, “she said.

And he concluded: “I am happy for the club, for how it works and for the management that is betting on it. And above all for the people who collect basketball.”

The Glory ended up on strike in Santiago del Estero. He won the fifth game 85-84 and came out champion, but it was not a stroke of luck. It was a tumultuous process, where it was necessary to overcome and work hard on the rails. The leader of the train was Victoriano and his lieutenants Nico Romano, Taia Gallizzi and Loku Neck. The Cordovan team set foot on Santiago’s soil and left their red and white mark.

The summary of the match