Giron: "We will face the continent's best teams"

MONTERREY (DIRECTV Liga de las Americas 2017) - Fuerza Regia is returning to the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas in interesting circumstances. The team has supported and worked on the creation of the continental club competition and always believed in the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas, defending the competition throughout the difficult times.

However, it never managed to have outstanding performances. In the four participations it accumulates the team couldn't advance the qualifying group.

That seems to be the challenge of Fuerza Regia for the 2017 edition, where they will host Group B, an advantage they don’t want to disparage.

Shooter Gabriel Girón is the most representative player of the team. Because of that, he knows what the Liga de las Americas means for the team that currently leads the Mexican National League, raising expectations for this season.

What does this new participation in the DIRECTV Liga de las Americas mean for Fuerza Regia?
For us this is a new opportunity to transcend internationally. As a team we were waiting for this tournament, because we know that we will play against the best teams of the continent. Being able to participate in a tournament like this is a motivation.

Having the best record of the Mexican National League is an added stimulus to face the international tournament?
It is. We have shown in the first half of the National League that we have the team to compete, play a good role and fight for the title. Playing against international teams is another incentive to continue testing as a team. We want to know what our level is on the continental level. It's a tournament we've been awaiting for a long time. Fuerza Regia is an important team from Mexico and it deserves to be among the best of the Americas.

For this season the team incorporated several important names to its roster. How much did the team structure change? What did it improve
Fuerza Regia's management made good hires this season, mixing experience and youth in the squad. They added players with national team experience and a coach, like Paco Olmos, with international experience. As for the game, the system has embedded in all the members, each player knows the role that it has inside the team. In addition, something that we have improved as a team has been the defense. We take it as the starting point of our style and it is giving us very good results.

What do you think of the qualifying group, along with the current champion, Guaros de Lara (VEN), Leones de Quilpué (CHI) and Caballos de Coclé (PAN)?
In the Liga de las Americas all the groups are difficult, and that always happens. That is why it has been so difficult to advance to the next phase. We know that we will face the best teams of the continent. Our qualifying group will be difficult, but we will go step by step to qualify for the Semi-Final Phase.

How important is home advantage in the Group Phase? How will the team take advantage of it?
It will be a major advantage. We will have to make the most out of it, since we have a great fans, as they are always supporting us in every moment. Being at home should motivate us even more.

FIBA