By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
BEIJING – Luis Scola didn’t become a legend during the 2019 edition of the FIBA World Cup. However, his legacy became even bigger thanks to his mythical feats during the tournament.
Scola became a regular member of the Argentinian national team back in 1999, and 20 years later he is having one of his best FIBA tournaments ever.
His records speak by themselves, but it’s his mentality that gives an example for generations to come and proves with the “Golden Generation” of Argentinian basketball was unique.
Scola is winning medals for Argentina since the 1995 South American Cadet Championship and the 1996 South American Junior Championship. And he is not going to stop since his team has already qualified for the 2020 Olympics and he should be the primary candidate for flag-bearer of the Argentinian Olympic team when they enter the Tokyo Olympic stadium.
The Scola method
Scola and Argentina have already won gold this summer in the 2019 Pan American Games and have secured at least silver in the FIBA World Cup.
And he had predicted this kind of success two years ago. “I like this team, and in two years we will play in the FIBA World Cup semifinal,” Scola said to coach Sergio Hernandez, as he revealed after the quarterfinal win over Serbia. “I looked at him and said, ok you know better, you are the boss,” Hernandez said all smiles sine the prophecy of Scola was vindicated.
This was not just a self-fulfilling prophecy. Scola knew what he had to do and did it just after the end of his season with the Shanghai Sharks.
“He was alone for four weeks on his country house, preparing himself, and then he appeared ready,” said Hernandez, but the individual training of Scola is not a mystery.
Scola went to the town of Castelli, together with coaches Mariano Sanchez, Marcelo Lopez, and Agustin Caffaro. When all was said and done, Scola was in top form.
En su campo de Castelli, y bajo las órdenes de Mariano Sánchez (técnica individual) y Marcelo López (PF), entrena desde hace cuatro semanas Luis Scola. Desde ayer, también con la compañía de Agustín Cáffaro. pic.twitter.com/h1ryF71wHQ
— CABB (@cabboficial) June 5, 2019
Scola is leading by example, and the rest must follow. He is the leader of Argentina in every possible way, setting the tone even in the locker room celebrations.
While there’s always a bit of Latin-American temperament after a win, Scola sets things straight pretty quickly. “He comes in, he says ok you can celebrate for the next 25 minutes, but then get off the social media, rest and let’s concentrate on the next game”, coach Hernandez said.
And despite being 39 years old, Scola is not occupated with this number at all. He will play at least for one more year, he is a free agent, and despite being an Olympic champion back in 2004, he has the chance to add one more trophy to his vast collection.
Winning the FIBA World Cup while being 39 years old and still one of the top players on the floor is merely legendary.