TENERIFE (Spain) - The name Lenovo Tenerife is now synonymous with the Basketball Champions League.

After joining and winning the inaugural season, the senior club has won the BCL once again in 2022. They also  finished second in 2018-19, and established one of Europe's most celebrated and discernible playing styles on the floor. 

Tenerife's U18 team also joined the Youth BCL in its inaugural season and put on a strong showing - eventually finishing fifth. For Jou Costa, the youth team Director, the competition has clearly been a valuable addition to their schedule.

"For us, it’s a very important tournament because we can show what we can do. It’s a high-level tournament, with the best organization, and very good referees, so for us, it’s easy to play," said Costa.

Tenerife will be bringing back six players from last year's group and look set to be even stronger this time around. As always with this club, the brand of basketball is non-negotiable.

"Right now we have two players that played some minutes in the ACB and also in the Basketball Champions League, but also right now I think we have a couple more players who are ready to go step by step, and have a goal to arrive as soon as possible as professional basketball players," Costa added.

"Everyone can shoot, everyone can rebound, and everyone can run the floor. Everybody can handle the ball so it’s a very beautiful team to coach and I hope it will be a very beautiful team to watch also." - Tenerife head coach Ronald Comez

Louis Riga,  the 2005-born Frenchman, and Spanish shooting guard Diego Fernandez Trujillo (also 2005-born) are the two players from last year's cohort that made their senior BCL debuts this season.

Head coach Ronald Comez is also back with the group, bringing more of the continuity that the senior club has become known for. He has high hopes for the product this group can put on the floor.

"We are bringing a team where everyone can shoot, everyone can rebound, and everyone can run the floor. Everybody can handle the ball so it’s a very beautiful team to coach and I hope it will be a very beautiful team to watch also," said Comez.

"We expect to face very good players and very good teams so our goal is to compete in every game against some of the best players in Europe," he continued. 

Youth BCL Players to Watch

Mohamed Sangare | Date of Birth: April 7,  2007 | C

Malian center Sangare led the team in scoring and rebounding in last year's edition, putting up an impressive 16.8 points and 13 rebounds. He's back again and will be expected to be even more dominant. 

2008-born Babel Yitu Lipasi was also impressive last time around at such a young age, putting up 7.8 points and 6 rebounds in just 17.8 minutes. Sharpshooter Pablo Grima Lorenzo shot 47 percent from deep last time around and will be expected to take up a leadership role as one of the older players in the group.

Program Alumni

Diego Fernandez Trujillo made his BCL debut this season

Alberto Cabrera | Danilo Brnovic | Marc Ivankovic | Musa Sagnia | Nuha Sagnia | Jorge Diaz Graham | Guillermo Diaz Graham  | Louis Riga  | Diego Fernandez Trujillo.

The 18-year old Diego Fernandez Trujillo joined the senior team already last year and this season he's featured in two BCL games.

Another Tenerife native who came up through the academy system is Alberto Cabrera. In 2014, he became the club’s youngest debutant in the ACB at 16 years 6 months, and 25 days of age.

Cabrera debuted in the Basketball Champions League in 2018-19, played there the following two seasons as well and also contributed to the club winning the FIBA Intercontinental Cup title in 2020. Cabrera is currently playing in the third division LEB Silver.