Catracho Ballers: the image of Honduras basketball for high performance

TEGUCIGALPA (Honduras) - Honduras basketball has experienced major challenges in the first six months of 2019, motivating the Central American country to generate a constant effort to carry out initiation, development and high performance camps for children and young people from 11 to 19 years in both branches, with the characteristic of potential national teams.

Accompanying the growth, "Catracho Ballers Skills Academy" was born, as the first camp in Honduras and in Central America, for the training of players / athletes, which took place between July 8 and 11 of this year, in the sports facilities of the Technological University of Honduras, Campus UNITEC Tegucigalpa, under the direction of Marco Banegas Flores and Christopher Flores, two Honduran / American brothers who are members of the National Men's National Team of Honduras, who were key players in obtaining the Bronze Medal in the Tournament of Champions Clubs of Central America, Managua 2018.

The initiative seeks to create a training program for players, and coaches working on mock drills to improve offensive and defensive instincts, the IQ (intellectual coefficient) through situation and competition  exercises and improving vision and communication effectively on the court, between others, guided by 5 fundamental values: integrity, commitment, teamwork, sport and progress.

Marco Banegas studied his High School at O'Bryant / Brimmer & May, as well as playing and studying at the University of Massachusetts Lowell (NCAA DI), and playing professionally for clubs in El Salvador and Honduras.

It is the current base of the National Team of Honduras, with the number 4, since 2013. His last participation with the team was in the Central American Tournament of Clubs Nicaragua 2018, averaging 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game, with an efficiency of 75 percent in line of free throws, obtaining the Bronze Medal of the competition. In addition, he has the Coach Beaver Country Day and the USA Youth Basketball Coach licenses.

"We seek to work with boys and girls from 11 to 19 years old, to develop their basketball game on the court and to connect Honduran athletes in Honduras and abroad. We also work in the training of children, who participate in the Mini Basketball games of the country, "said the founder and director of the Camp.

Christopher Flores also studied at his High School at the O'Bryant / Brimmer & May, played and studied at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NCCA DI) and played professionally in Germany, the Dominican Republic, and Honduras. With the number 1, is the escort of the National Team of Honduras, since 2013. His last participation with the National Team was in the Central American past of Nicaragua 2018, averaging 9.5 points per game, 3 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He also has the Beaver Country Day coach's license and serves as a professor at West Roxbury High School USA.

"We want to develop basketball in the country, working with young categories in both branches, we want to find ways to make this sport grow in the country and unify the cities in which there is the talent to present a team and unify players who have the talent and bring them to play in Tegucigalpa. That they can come to play and maybe be selected to play in the national team of Honduras. We have many plans for the future and we hope, with the support of all, to do great things, "added the other founder and director of the Camp.

The structure of the camp is organized into four groups arranged in age and branch. On Monday, July 8, a first male group of 11 to 14 years began to work, on Tuesday 9 the second group of 15 to 19 years, on Wednesday 10 a third group, female, of 11 to 14 years and on Thursday 11 another of 15 to 19 years old. Each elite squad received its official shirt from the camp and had the development of activities for 10 hours.

"The Camp serves to encourage us to play sports and improve physical activity. The Flores brothers were looking for a life mission and ended up being great basketball players and that encourages us to improve and play basketball, improving our lives to believe big. In the Camp I was able to learn techniques in which I needed to improve, using tools that help us improve. It is a good example to follow ahead and to incentive, the sport between the young people ", counted in FIBA.basketball, Hary Galeas, selected national of Mini-Basketball category U12.

Within the four-day planning, the "Student-Athlete Panel" talk was presented, where one hour per day was taught about the impact of basketball on the life of each coach in the camp, and work activities were also developed. written, where they shared their experiences and talk about nutrition.

"The idea of ​​the Camp is very good, they teach us techniques and we review what we already know, in addition to teaching and being able to share with kids from other schools. I would invite more girls because here we can learn and share. I have friends who are with me in the Camp learning, "said Elena Godoy Castellón, 12 years old.

The days of the camp in charge of former national and active selected, assuming the role of coaches of each group, according to age and branch, were in charge of Marco Banegas Flores, Christopher Flores, Leonardo Amador, Cesar Estling, Ankara Reichle, Karla Ordoñez , Daniela Castillo, along with Karloman Bejarano and Carmen Cubas. Accompanied by a large group of collaborators, Joseth Trabanino, Ana Sanchez, Maaly Rochez, Justin Flores, Carlos Bentgson, Mario Cañadas, Gerson Gomez, and the families of each Baltra Catracho, who also made the camp possible.

"Catracho Ballers is a hundred percent Honduran development, seeks to connect our environment with our country ties, generate pride and belonging for the basketball of Honduras", expressed in FIBA.basketball, Carmen Cubas, a reference of the National Basketball Federation of Honduras (FENABAH).

"We focus on three aspects: the active participation of the basketball community linked to national teams both athletes / participants, as athletes / coaches, in addition to offering our country initiatives and development opportunities for basketball with a focus on high performance camps and to work for this cause, showing the generations in minor categories a role model of athlete training, based on discipline, commitment, perseverance, motivation and excellence, accompanied by the integral values ​​of academic, moral and sports training ".

"Catracho Ballers" offers a dynamic sports, coexistence, innovation with use of optimal facilities such as the court, locker rooms, showers, conference rooms, recreational areas with internet connection, moisturizers, exposure in social networks, photographs, personalized videos, sports equipment, factors that lead a federation to continue practicing this sport.

"Marco and Christopher represent our national team and are focused on the growth of our basketball. Our Catrachos Ballers can identify with national sports models, who, like them, have been students, have had dreams and goals and have worked for them, "added Cubas.

The basketball of Honduras is going to be strengthened day by day with the commitment of those who contribute not only an interest to grow, to work in a team, but also to celebrate the love of basketball and to show the world, that we can proudly Be a "Catracho Ballers".

FIBA