BCLA 2023-2024 - Gladiadores de Anzoategui (Venezuela) defines roster and coaching staff

Gladiadores de Anzoategui, the champions of Venezuela's Superliga Profesional de Baloncesto in 2023 (SPB 2023), will end Venezuela's absence in international club's tournaments by being part of Group A in the upcoming 2023-2024 edition of the Basketball Champions League Americas (BCLA).

It's been 4 years since Venezuela last sent a club to an international tournament back in 2019. Gladiadores will face Halcones de Xalapa (Mexico) and Real Esteli (Nicaragua) in Group A.

Venezuela's Senior NT head coach, Daniel Seoane (agency: Pro Sports ), has been appointed as the team's head coach, while Keving Palacios will serve as assistant coach. American James Maye , who led the team to its first ever SPB title, is unavailable due to his compromises in the NBA's G-League.

The roster will include players such as Gregory Vargas (181-PG-1986, agency: Pro Sports), Nestor Colmenares (200-C-1987, college: Campbellsville, agency: Pro Sports), Yohanner Sifontes (192-G-1995, agency: Pro Sports), Anthony Perez (205-F-1993, college: Ole Miss), Garly Sojo (196-PG-1999, agency: Pro Sports), Nelson Palacios (192-SF-1992), Raymond Rada (194-G/F-1997), Jhon Romero (199-F-1985) and Jesus Martinez (206-F/C-1986). Foreign players will be Charles Garcia (204-PF-1988, college: Seattle), Henry Walker (198-G/F-1987, college: Kansas St.), David Nickelberry (201-G/F-1998, college: Buffalo) and Antonio Pena (204-F-1986, college: Villanova).

Gladiadores will start by playing two games in Managua, Nicaragua, against Halcones de Xalapa (December 17th) and Real Esteli (December 18th). Then, they'll be hosts in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela to face Real Esteli (January 20th, 2024) and Halcones de Xalapa (January 21st, 2024) and will end the group's first round with a trip to Xalapa, Mexico to face the hosts Halcones (February 7th, 2024) and Real Esteli (February 8th, 2024).

The two top teams will advance to the Quarter Finals Round, to be played on March 4th, 2024.

Group B features Sao Paulo (Brazil), Nacional (Uruguay) and Quimsa (Argentina), Group B includes Flamengo (Brazil), Hebraica (Uruguay) and Boca Juniors (Argentina) and Group D will involve Concepcion (Chile), Obras Sanitarias (Argentina) and Sesi Franca (Brazil).