Everything set in Macas for the launch of Group B

MACAS (DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana 2018) - La Loma Coliseum, in Macas, Ecuador, will host from Tuesday to Thursday, Group B of DIRECTV Liga Sudamericana 2018, with the participation of Olimpia (Paraguay), Deportivo Calero (Bolivia), Piratas de Los Lagos (Ecuador) and the host Iccan de Macas.

The four teams will go in search of the only ticket available to the Semi-Final Phase, where Franca (Brazil) and Instituto de Córdoba (Argentina) already await their 6 rivals.

Iccan and Piratas, the two Ecuadorians, have just finished the regular round of their local league, securing the first and second places in the standings, with 16 and 14 victories respectively, in 18 matches.

The homeowner and current champion of Ecuador will arrive at the international tournament with a run of five victories in the southern circuit.

"We are having a great moment in our league and want to have a strong showing in the Liga Sudamericana. We have great commitment and a great responsibility," Iccan coach, Darío Coronel told the team's press department.

The Macas quintet recently announced the incorporations of the Venezuelan power forward Axiers Sucre, the Cuban Reynaldo García and the national Andrés Conchambay.

"I’ve had several participations in this league and I think I can contribute. I'm going to go out on the court to sweat the shirt as if it were the one of my country," said Sucre during his presentation as a member of the organization.

Piratas closed the knockout phase of its league with four wins in a row. Their most recent defeat was precisely against Iccan.

On the other hand, Olimpia, the Paraguayan monarch, arrives at the regional competition after capturing their fourth consecutive title last July.

In mid-September, the club traveled to Argentina and faced Regatas Corrientes (defeat 84-79) and Union Formosa (win 83-77), as part of the preseason of both Argentine teams and to get in tune for this commitment.

The roster includes Guillermo Araujo and Javier Martinez, emblems of the Paraguayan National Team, besides the Argentine Juan Pablo Cantero and other reinforcements like Anthony Young, Anthony Kent and Rodney Green.

Under the technical direction of Juan Pablo Feliú, they look like a tough opponent.

The Bolivian champion, Deportivo Calero, celebrated their scepter a few weeks ago in their internal competition and aims to change the recent history of the teams from that country.

"We are searching for the best way to face this Liga Sudamericana, because it is also a rematch after the performance from last year. We have a number of players from the Bolivian National Team that want to carry forward the name of the country, with a great campaign. We want to be in a second phase for the first time in history," said coach Giovanny Vargas to the newspaper Los Tiempos.

The squad of Potosí added to its squad Pedro Gutiérrez, René Calvo as well as the Argentinean Agustín Ambrosino and the Serbian Milos Petkovic.

"The new members fit the group well," added Vargas.

FIBA