Juan Fontena returns to the international arena with ABA Ancud from Chile

Juan Fontena will return to play in Chile, after playing the Venezuelan tournament with Marinos de Oriente / Photo: Marinos Press

After his great season with ABA Ancud in the Chilean League and after returning to Marinos de Oriente after 13 years without playing in Venezuela, the Carupana power forward Juan Fontena returns to the international scene.

The Ancuditans, captained by Fontena and with their new coach Cipriano Núñez, earned their place in the South American League after tying Leones de Quilpué for the lead in the Chilean regular round last season.

Without Brazilian teams due to Fiba sanctions and with the absence of Venezuelan and Colombian clubs (unwilling to attend), the governing body of basketball announced that the 27th edition of the South American League will be hosted by 10 teams, divided into two groups.

Lots

In section A, based in Osorno, Chile, (Español de Osorno), ABA Ancud, San Lorenzo (Argentina), Nacional (Uruguay) and Santa María (Ecuador) will play.

The action in the southern country will be from October 15 to 20

In Group B, which will be played at the Vicente Rosales gymnasium in La Banda, Argentina, there will be the gauchos Obras Sanitarias and Olímpico de La Banda, Nacional Potosí (Bolivia), Deportivo San José (Paraguay) and Defensor Sporting (Uruguay).

Group B will be played between October 22 and 27.

Challenge

“I know very well where I am. This club is an example of how basketball should be lived and for me it is a pleasure to be here,” said Núñez to local media, upon taking the reins of the Celestes.

Fontena and former Marinos player Franco Morales will be the main figures in the quintet from the north of Chiloé, which has already announced the imported Jonathan Ned and Derrick Woods.

The player from Sucre will return to the international club scene after his participation in the 2013 and 2014 League of the Americas (Estrellas Occidentales and Marinos), and in the 2015 Sudamericana (Deportes Castro).

Santiago de Chile / Leon Aguilar