Thursday, October 1, 2015

Costa Rica Basketball 101

Updated 10/1/15
A few pointers about the structure of Costa Rican basketball:

  • The best way to explain the league's structure is to think about European soccer. It's a very similar structure and philosophy.
  • A few years ago, the league had eight teams, but that number has dwindled down to six. I compare it roughly to DII ball in the NCAA, though I think the better teams can compete with a low level DI school. The six teams projected to be in the league this year are:
    • Ferreteria Brenes Barva, seven-time champs, Barva Web Page
    • Escazu 
    • Liceo de Costa Rica
    • Copenae USJ San Ramon, defending champion
    • Grecia
    • Limon Sharks
  • Typically, the bottom team each year drops down to Second Division and the top Second Division team comes up to First Division. The Second Division season has dragged on this year, but it looks like the winner may take the challenge of coming up to First Division.

Back in the saddle

And we're back.

Back in Escazu that is. Let's do a quick recap. After the 2013 in with Escazu was eliminated in the Finals, I decided to take a break from coaching. Two emotional seasons that were virtually back-to back, as well as some national team duties left me a little burned out. So I was set to take a season off from basketball…except that some turn of events eventually led me back.

2013-14 season

San Ramon took the Apertura tournament. They brought in a hot-shooting guard from VCU, Brandon Rozzell, which gave them perimeter firepower to go along with their traditional strength inside. After winning the last title, Ferreteria Brenes Barva had a tumultuous tournament, losing Kay Martinez after an incident with the refs in a controversial loss to San Ramon. They were eventually bested in the Apertura Finals despite the best efforts of Antonio Jones to carry the team in the series.

The Ferreteria Brenes administration decided on a series of mid-season changes, setting aside Antonio Jones and Dale Carn and bringing in Escazu's Micahel Jackson and UWM big man, Jason McCoy, as well as bringing Cristian Chavarria out of retirement. Jorge Arguello also reached out to me to join their coaching staff as an assistant (I'll dedicate a future post about that experience). Barva eventually took the Clausura title, taking advantage of a key injury to Isaac Conejo. In the National Finals, Barva took a 2-0 lead, only to see full-strength San Ramon claw back into the series taking it to a fifth and final game. The fifth game was a tight game, with each team landing blows but neither team able to grab control of the game. Barva had a fleeting fourth quarter lead which San Ramon eventually narrow to a tie with nine seconds left. Rohel Wilson hit the shot of his career as the buzzer sounded to give Barva back-to-back titles.



2014-15 season

Looking to avenge their Finals loss, San Ramon put together a loaded squad, bringing in D3 standout Giorgio Milligan and Dijon Farr, as well as bringing in Kay Martinez, giving them their deepest squad in years. Brandon Rozzell defected to Barva, which brought back most of the previous title team. In the semifinals, Barva found a way to survive a resourceful Grecia, which won the first game and was up in the last quarter of the second only to see the series victory slip through their fingers. In the ensuing Apertura Final series, each team won a game before San Ramon obliterated Barva 83-50 in the deciding game. 

Just like in the previous year, Barva decided to enact wholesale changes, removing Jorge Arguello as head coach and cutting Brandon Rozzell. In the process, I was let go as well. Even though the new coach, Henry Martinez eventually asked me to stay, it was pretty clear to me that the Barva ownership didn't want me around. 

Eventually, I found myself taking over Escazu. They had finished in fifth place and out of the playoffs. I came onboard as Head Coach and we added a few players, including Brandon. The revamped roster caught people by surprise and we were able to finish second in the league. However the season took a toll on he roster and we lost both our point guards before the playoffs, where a hungry Grecia team put us out of our misery. San Ramon beat Barva and Grecia in convincing fashion to regain the title. 

Los jugadores del equipo de San Ramón en pleno festejo tras coronarse campeones nacionales de baloncesto.   |  JORGE ARCE