By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
“A god of basketball”. These are the words that Pablo Laso used to describe Aito Reneses, after the Copa Del Rey final. And who are we to disagree?
Aito Reneses is Spanish basketball. A beacon for everyone that arrived after him. Quite a lot of the tactics and systems that are implemented by Spanish teams in the modern history of the sport, were born inside Reneses’ brilliant mind. One which remains a never-ending source of unique basketball ideas.
ACB organized an event to honor the coach of Gran Canaria for his 50 years in the Spanish Championship, with many basketball luminaries being present. Reneses. Xabier Aνua, Nacho Rodriguez, Pepe Laso, Vicente Ramos, Alfonso Reyes, Juan Maria Gavalda, Diego Ocampo, Tonín Llorente, Pepino Casal, Sito Alonso, Miguel Lopez Abril, Joaquim Costa Manolo Flores, Nacho Azofra, Oscar Quintana, Rodrigo de la Fuente and Joan Creus, among others.
The president of ACB Francisco Roca greeted everyone and then spoke about Aito. “A very innovative professional in his work. “He has always been very attentive to the technical aspects and a pioneer in knowing how to extract the knowledge from a sport that is so very complicated. In addition, the ability to detect talent allowed him to give many opportunities to young athletes”.
Lolo Sainz, an icon both as a player and as a coach (and one of the most influential personalities in European Basketball history, according to Euroleague experts) said that “This is a tribute which is much deserved and essential at the same time. You dedicated 50 years genuinely to the sport and you have an impressive resume”.
1994 European champion Rafa Jofresa remembered beginning his career as a professional basketball player, under Aito’s guidance, in Badalona during 1983-1985. “He is a coach that leaves no one indifferent. he is very close with the young players. He helped us grow in our career. He was one of the first that began to utilize various things in his work, that are now considered of standard use by coaches. Scouting, watching videos of previous games or extensively talking with players. Many tried to imitate him”.
Of course, Aito Reneses took the stage as well. “My father said that wherever you are, you are supposed to try to be the best, and that’s what I tried to do. I hope this also can continue, not so much with me, but to all the world of basketball”, said the coach of Gran Canaria.