By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
In the buildup to the FIBA Intercontinental Cup taking place in Rio de Janeiro from February 15-17, we take a look at each of the four participating teams.
Here’s the profile of the famous club from Buenos Aries, San Lorenzo, whose history dates back to 1935, has in recent years been the most dominant team in Argentina.
Players to Watch Out For
Dar Tucker
The 30-year-old is a big name in Argentina, where he was the league (LNB)’s MVP during the 2016-17 campaign while on the books of Estudiantes Concordia. The 6ft 4in (1.93m) guard, who plays for Jordan’s national team and featured in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Asian Qualifiers, played a vital role for San Lorenzo in their Liga de las Americas-winning campaign, pouring in 15 points in the 79-71 triumph over Mogi Das Cruzes in the Final.
Nicolas Aguirre
Another former MVP of Argentina’s LNB (in 2015 while a player of Quimsa), Aguirre joined San Lorenzo in 2015 and has provided a steady hand in the backcourt. The 6ft 3in (1.89m) combo-guard narrowly missed a triple-double in last year’s Liga de las Americas Final with 11 points, 9 assists and 9 rebounds. He has been with San Lorenzo for all the good times, playing a significant role in their title-winning campaigns since 2016.
Joel Anthony
The Canada international has experienced a lot of highs as a player, including winning NBA titles with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013. He also played for the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs in an NBA career that spanned more than a decade. With San Lorenzo, the 6ft 9in (2.06m) center was a big part of their LNB and Liga de las Americas double-winning campaign last year. In the title defense of the latter, Anthony averaged 8.3 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks in the three recent victories over Mogi Das Cruzes, San Martin de Corrientes and CD Las Animas.
Team’s All-Time Greats
Walter Hermmann
A member of his country’s golden generation, Hermmann represented Argentina when the country won gold at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. That was three years after he scooped his first LNB MVP honor while a player of Atenas, the same club he claimed the award with again in 2014. In between, including the Olympic gold medal, Herrmann had a lot of highs, including an NBA run from 2006 to 2009 in the NBA when he suited up for the Charlotte Bobcats (now Hornets) and Detroit Pistons. Hermman was the MVP of San Lorenzo’s first LNB Final triumph (2016) in his one season (2015-16) with the club.