While everyone talks about the decline of his generation, Gregory Vargas made the little tables vibrate and collected records left and right in the recently concluded SPB 2023. The champion trophy, which he lifted with his Gladiadores de Anzoátegui, was truly the golden brooch of an unforgettable year.
On June 6, in the quarterfinals against Guaiqueríes de Margarita, he completed 6,000 points and 600 games in Venezuelan professional basketball.
12 days later, in the second game of the Conference Final against Piratas de La Guaira, he became the second player in history with 700 or more postseason assists. And already in the final, against Guaros de Lara, he surpassed 200 assists in finals, owning the second best record in all history.
He didn’t know, but every minute on the court brought him closer to a new feat. And yes, after knowing that his duty was done, he feels satisfied with the path he has traveled since 2005, when he debuted with Panteras de Miranda.
“I didn’t have any of those records in mind, I was focused on helping the team and I wasn’t paying attention to my personal numbers. But it was really satisfying when they told me that I had reached them”, commented the 37-year-old point guard.
Read also: Vargas: “It was a difficult season but we worked hard”
“I feel really excited about the season that I had. It is important to show that I have a lot to contribute to Venezuelan basketball. My desire to compete is still intact”, added the six-time champion.
Gregory Vargas (Photo: Gladiators Press)
His inexhaustible energy always makes him stand out, always on the move, attentive to everything that happens on and off the court. He really feels in his prime, he has the experience of 15 campaigns in Venezuela and he is as eager for glory as when he was a rookie.
“I want to continue winning championships and bringing joy to my country”, reiterated the pilot, who finished the regular round averaging 13.0 points with 5.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists.
The desire is the same: + basketball
Gregory Vargas is convinced that the regularity that men’s basketball has adopted in recent years has been very helpful to maintain and even continue to shine in the national basketball team, with which he already went to the Olympic Games (Rio 2016) and with which in August he will play his second World Cup.
“That it has been played for four consecutive years has been very good for Venezuelan basketball and even for the national team players. We have to keep working so that this is maintained and we can even have longer seasons”, considered the famous “super mouse”.
“The SPB is a good tournament, personally I think that the number of imported players has to be reduced to increase the chances of the juniors. I hope it is something that they review soon and we can continue to improve”, insisted the man from Ocumare del Tuy.
For Gladiadores, who gave him his first championship since 2018, there is only gratitude. And the firm conviction that it is a story that is just beginning and in which he hopes to continue being the protagonist.
For now, the 2023 trophy is added, according to historian Pedro Marrero, to those he won in 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 (all with Marinos) and 2018 (with Guaros). Glorifying a history in which there is a Rookie of the Year Award (2006) and another for the best Sixth Man (2009), as well as a Final MVP (2015).
2023-07-10 22:52:17
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