Get to know BCL Americas Group C: Flamengo, Instituto, Peñarol

MIAMI (United States) – BCL Americas Season 4 will have Flamengo (BRA), Instituto (ARG) and Peñarol (URU) to form Group C. This is how the three teams will enter the tournament:

 Flamengo (BRA)

The Rio de Janeiro team is one of the most experienced teams on the continent with seven national league titles and two Intercontinental Cup titles (2014, 2022). They were runner-ups in Brazil’s NBB season last year, and currently in second place in the standings in the regular phase, with an 11-1 record.

Participations (counting 2022-23): 4
Flamengo has been part of the four BCL Americas seasons. They were crowned champions in the second season (2020-21) and runner-up in the first season (2019-20).

Coach: Gustavo De Conti
De Conti arrived at the club in the 2018-19 season. Under his reign, Flamengo has reached the BCLA and Intercontinental Cup titles. At the local level, they won a Carioca Championship and a Super 8 Cup.

Players for the 2022-23 season
Nicolás Aguirre
José Vildoza
Matheus Leoni
Gui Deodato
Rafael Rachel
Martín Cuello
Gabriel Jaú
Rafael Mineiro
Carlos Olivinha
Emanuel Fernandes
Rafael Hettsheimeir
Vitor Faverani

Perspective
In any competition in which Flamengo participates, they will always be among the top candidates for the title. They have players with great international experience who will come back with a vengeance after their disappointing Quarter-finals exit in Season 3.

 Instituto (ARG)

Instituto come from being crowned champions in the latest season of the Argentine National League to establish themselves as one of the best clubs in the country in recent years. In 2021 they lifted the LNB Super 20 title and in 2018 they were runner-ups in the South American League. This current Argentine season, they occupy third place in the standings with a record of 12-4.

Participations (counting 2022-23): 3
Instituto comes back for more after being absent from BCLA Season 3. They had their best performance in the first season when they advanced to the Semifinals. Yet in the 2020-21 season they failed to get past the Group Phase.

Coach: Lucas Victoriano
Victoriano arrived at the club last year and guided it to the National League championship. The former Argentina national team player previously had notable stints for Regatas Corrientes and Estudiantes de Concordia. In the latter he was a finalist in Liga Sudamericana and a semifinalist in Liga de las Américas.

Players for the 2022-23 season
Leandro Vildoza
Mateo Charini
Phillip Lockett
Elías Gastón
Luciano González
Bautista Lugarini
Nicolás Copello
Juan Frontera
Josué Santillán
Martín Fernández
Nicolás Romano
Tayavek Gallizzi

Perspective
Being the current champion of Argentina, comes with high expectations. The club has a roster with a very solid national base, including the MVP of the previous season, Nicolás Romano. The guard Luciano "Chuzito" González also returned, who was the spark in the runner-up spot in the South American League.

 Peñarol (URU)

After being away for 11 years, the historic Uruguayan club resumed competition in its country in 2018 and has already made their mark. They came back strong as they ended runner-ups in the Uruguayan league. In its history, the club has six national titles and another in the old South American Club Championship (1983). They are now 6-4 with a three-win streak.

Participations (counting 2022-23): 1
This will be Peñarol's first international participation after their return in 2018 and will do so in the most senior club tournament in the continent.

Coach: Pablo Lopez
The experienced Uruguayan coach has been in charge of the team since the previous season and has led the club to a runner-up spot. With a great career, he now seeks transcendence with an organization that is trying to redeem their glory both locally and internationally.

Players for the 2022-23 season
Nicolás Borsellino
David Huertas
Diego Pena García
Lee Roberts
Charles Thomas
Salvador Zanotta
Álex López
Manuel Mayora
Mateo Giano
Joaquín Rodríguez
Edu Medina
Robin Benzing

Perspective
Anything that Peñarol can achieve this season will serve to continue strengthening the base of their club in this new stage. However, they have a solid squad to advance to the playoffs. German forward Robin Benzing is perhaps their most experienced player as they face a challenging BCL Americas season 4.

FIBA