MIAMI (United States) – The action in Group D of the Basketball Champions League Americas kicks off this Saturday. SESI Franca, the 2023 champions, emerge as strong contenders and are expected to be in the mix for the knockout stages. Instituto has the resources to seek a place in the next round, while debutants CDC Leones will aim to make a strong first impression and pull off an upset. Let's take a closer look at the rivals in Group D:
Instituto (ARG)
The Argentine club had a great 2023-24 season, winning the Liga Sudamericana and finishing as runners-up in the LNB. In the current Argentine league, they have a 9-3 record and sit in second place. Lucas Victoriano remains the head coach.
Appearances (including 2024-25): 4 This will be their fourth appearance in the continent's premier club tournament. In 2020, they made their debut and reached the Semifinals. In their two subsequent appearances (2021 and 2023), they failed to advance beyond the group stage. Players to watch We’ll see the return of Roberto Acuña, Javier Saiz, Bautista Lugarini, Leandro Vildoza, and Uruguayan Nicola Pomoli, which lifted the Liga Sudamericana title in 2023. Alex Negrete, the young Lee Aaliya, Nicolás Copello, and Tomás Monacchi will be the new additions for this season. Outlook With a strong coaching staff and a deep rotation, the Córdoba-based team has the ability to secure one of the top two spots in the group and return to the BCL Americas playoffs. The head-to-head matchup with the Chilean team will be decisive.
SESI Franca (BRA)
After winning the BCL Americas and the FIBA Intercontinental Cup in 2023, coach Helinho Garcia's team disappointed last season by being eliminated in the Quarterfinals. However, they bounced back by winning the Brazilian NBB title once again. This season, they will seek redemption as they retain a stellar roster, but their start in the domestic league has been inconsistent (9-6, seventh place). Appearances (including 2024-25): 5 They only missed the 2022 edition. In all their previous appearances, they have been a formidable opponent, always reaching at least the Quarterfinals. Obviously, 2023 was a year they will never forget after winning their domestic league, the continental title, and the FIBA Intercontinental Cup. Players to watch Georginho De Paula, Didi Louzada, and vet Rafael Hettsheimeir will be key returns for SESI Franca. Lucas Dias, Wesley Ferreira, Nathan Mariano and Paulo Barbosa, and Americans David Jackson and Charles Hinkle will also remain. The other foreign reinforcement is Argentine Facundo Corvalán. Dias and Barbosa have recently dealt with injuries and may not be available for this first set of games.
Outlook They are favored to claim the top spot in this group. If they can have all their roster members available, they are a serious contender for the title. They have the experience; the only question is their shaky start to the Brazilian league.
CDC Leones (CHI)
They emerged as champions in Chile last season, ending UdeC's dominance in that league. They are currently in the Quarterfinals of the Chilean Cup, aiming to reach the Semifinals (at the time of writing this report). Appearances (including 2024-25): 1 They have previously competed in the Liga Sudamericana but this will be their debut in the BCL Americas. They will be the third Chilean team in the tournament's history, joining CD Valdivia and UdeC, who had a four-year streak of appearances. Players to watch Ignacio Carrión and Darrol Jones are the leading national players. Among those available for this competition are seven foreign players: Puerto Rican Gabriel Belardo, Uruguayan Pablo Allegrini, Dominicans Anyeuri Castilo and Eduardo Lugo, and Americans Jerry Evans Jr., Roquez Johnson, and Joshua Webster.
Outlook As debutants, they are initially seen as the underdogs in the group. However, their foreign reinforcements have quality and, on a good day, could make life difficult for their other two opponents. FIBA