It’s official: Néstor García is the new coach of the basketball team

Since Sergio Hernandez announced his departure from the Argentina basketball team, different names began to sound as possible replacements for Oveja, who closed his successful cycle with the highest number of official matches in the history of the National Team (116) and the best percentage of victories (72.4%, 84-32 record).

However, among all the candidates, there was one who quickly stood out above the rest and little by little began to gain more strength: Nestor Garcia. In fact, after different specialized media confirmed their arrival, the CAB itself had to come out to clarify that they were still in negotiations. But when the river sounds …

Finally, what started as a rumor, this Tuesday became official: Che became the new coach of the National Team. “At last it happened … This is a dream and, at the same time, a great responsibility. The greatest of my career”, assured the brand new technician in a statement published by the Argentine Basketball Confederation.

And I add: “I also want to announce that mine will not be a personalist leadership. It will go through listening, composing, continuing and surrounding myself with the best. A new cycle begins in Argentine basketball, always respecting a legacy. I am very eager and excited to go for the big goal that Argentina remains in the elite of world basketball ”.

The trajectory of Néstor García

Che began his career as a professional coach at Gigantes de Carolina de Puerto Rico, in 1989. Then, in 1990, at the age of 25, he made his debut in the National League directing Estudiantes de Bahía Blanca, his hometown. At the local level, he won the League with Peñarol de Mar del Plata in 1994 and the Super 20 with San Lorenzo, in 2019.

At club level, he was also champion in 2000 of the Professional League of Puerto Rico, with Santurce Crabbers, and in 2006 of the Venezuelan Professional League (with Dolphins of Caracas) and the Superior Tournament (with Carabobo globetrotter). In 2011 he repeated with Marinos de Anzoátegui. In 2009 he was crowned in the Uruguay tournament with Biguá, a team with which he achieved the Top 4 of 2008 and the South American this year.

It also celebrated the League of Americas with Guaros de Lara in 2016. He led a total of 30 teams (21 different, repeated five, some on several occasions), from nine different countries. He played 15 finals and won 9, contesting 11 definitions with 11 different teams.

With selections, he consecrated himself in Venezuela, where between 2013 and 2016 he injected discipline, confidence and game identity to his national team, which was reflected in two South American titles (2014, beating Argentina in the final, and 2016, beating Brazil) and a Pre-Olympic (2015).

The last one reached it after beating Canada in the semifinals (with 9 NBA) and Argentina in the final. In this way, achieved Olympic qualification after 24 years.

He also successfully directed Uruguay (2003) and the Dominican Republic (they qualified for the 2019 World Cup and achieved the first qualification for the second phase). With Argentina he already won: he took the South American 2012 and before, as assistant to Julio Lamas, the Mar del Plata Pre-Olympic.