BY FERNANDO RODRIQUEZ
In April, two Cabo San Lucas basketball teams represented Los Cabos and Baja California Sur at the Mens’ over 50 years of age division at the Pan American Games held in Merida, winning the gold medal round.
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The participating countries included the USA, Brazil, Bolivia, Belize, Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Croatia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guadalupe, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Peru, and Uruguay. The event was sponsored and is governed by FIMBA, the International Maxi Basketball Federation. From Mexico, the cities and states involved were Los Cabos, Durango, Chihuahua, Mexico City, Michoacan, Nogales, Puebla, San Miguel de Allende, Sonora, Tijuana, and the host city and state of Merida, Yucatan.
The Master division age begins at 35 and is then followed by increments of five from 40 years old to 75.
The contingent teams from Los Cabos were led by an 8-member group known as the BCS 50, led by 6′ 11” center Juan Cornejo, small forward Oscar Victorio and their sharp, three-point shooting star from San Jose del Cabo, Ozkar Serafin. The team arrived in Yucatan on April 11 and then proceeded to beat Chile 113-64. After that, they also soundly crushed Costa Rica 80-51.
“We’re still in the tournament,” said an excited at the time, Juan Cornejo, whose teammates then won the gold with a down-to-the-wire win against Peru, 66-64.
“We enjoyed that victory very much. It was our biggest win at this year’s Pan American 2024 Games.”
The other Cabo contingent of older players to bring back gold was the team called the Sharks led by Cesar Castillo, known by everyone as ”Jordan” wearing # 23. ”We finished the first round 2-1 and continued winning well into the second round,” said Castillo, whose title-winning team earned them a direct pass to the World Cup in Europe next year.
For the first time in their history, the FIMBA World Maxi Basketball Championships will introduce the innovative concept of the FIMBA Villages. Designed to revolutionize the tournament experience, FIMBA Villages offers participants and fans an unparalleled opportunity to immerse themselves fully in the basketball festivities and foster a sense of camaraderie like never before.
At the heart of the FIMBA Villages, participants and guests will discover an array of engaging activities and entertainment. From live music performances to interactive games, cultural showcases, and thrilling contests, the FIMBA Villages have something for everyone. Indulge in the local flavors with food trucks serving delectable cuisines or relax at chill-out zones designed for socializing and making new friends.
As part of the FIMBA Villages experience, participants will have the chance to attend exclusive events and meet & greets with basketball legends and international stars. A vibrant hub of community and celebration, the FIMBA Villages will be specialty spaces set up near tournament venues in each of the host cities – Bellinzona, Lugano, and Locarno.
If you have never heard of Ticino, Switzerland, google that place and be mesmerized by a mountainous city situated around a breathtaking lake and spectacular landscape. Oh, to the victors go the spoils. Hail our mighty old hoop heroes.
