{"id":3948,"date":"2026-03-26T21:27:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-26T21:27:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/?page_id=3948"},"modified":"2026-03-29T22:07:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T22:07:21","slug":"anecdotas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/en\/anecdotas\/","title":{"rendered":"Anecdotes"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-1293422374\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-96459156\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<div class=\"row row-collapse align-middle\"  id=\"row-487415650\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1461142391\" class=\"col medium-7 small-6 large-10\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1359073660\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103-600x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103-9x12.jpg 9w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1359073660 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1386212694\" class=\"col medium-5 small-6 large-2\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div id=\"text-4017538278\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<h2><strong>WLADIMIR ANECDOTES<\/strong><\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-4017538278 {\n  text-align: center;\n  color: rgb(5, 73, 169);\n}\n#text-4017538278 > * {\n  color: rgb(5, 73, 169);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<style>\n#row-1293422374 > .col > .col-inner {\n  background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);\n}\n<\/style>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-414418792\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1698355310\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div id=\"text-1438763180\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<p>During the more than 35 years that I played basketball and was president of the Mavort club (between 1979 and 2014) there are literally hundreds of anecdotes or experiences related to the different games or championships in which we participated.<br \/>I will present a few anecdotes, not in order of importance or time, just those that come to mind in important tournaments or events that have left memories in my mind.<\/p>\n<p>I hope you like them.<\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-1438763180 {\n  font-size: 1.7rem;\n  line-height: 1.25;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_1976260329\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<div class=\"row row-large align-equal\"  id=\"row-62489702\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-997741997\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div id=\"text-2443979728\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<h2><strong>1. \u201cA CERTAIN\u201d MAVORT<\/strong><\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-2443979728 {\n  text-align: left;\n  color: rgb(255,255,255);\n}\n#text-2443979728 > * {\n  color: rgb(255,255,255);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div id=\"text-528404847\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">I founded Club Mavort, together with other former Universidad Cat\u00f3lica players, in May 1989. As a legally established club, we were able to play in the 1989 Pichincha Preparatory Tournament. We were drawn to play our first match of the tournament against Club La Salle, at that time the strongest team in Pichincha. Their roster included Ecuador national team players such as Jeff Escalante, Diego Romo, Jos\u00e9 Obando, Franklin Nazareno, and Alfredo Salgado, and they were overwhelmingly favored to defeat this new Club Mavort, which was made up mainly of former Universidad Cat\u00f3lica players. Mavort\u2019s starting lineup was Iv\u00e1n Calder\u00f3n, Ronal Cueva, Fernando Troya, Geovanny Perlaza, and Wladimir Ortega. It was a great game. By halftime, La Salle had built a 10-point lead. In the second half, Club Mavort responded, gradually cut into the deficit, and in an exciting finish won the game by 3 points. It was something unexpected and brought great joy to the members of Mavort. I believe it was the lucky star under which the club was born. The anecdote surrounding this victory took place the day after the game, when the Quito newspaper \u00daltimas Noticias published the summary of the match under a large headline that read: \u201cA CERTAIN\u201d MAVORT DEFEATED THE UNBEATABLE LA SALLE. It was a sensational result for a club that was just being born: Mavort.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-528404847 {\n  color: #ffffff;\n}\n#text-528404847 > * {\n  color: #ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_710306232\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"738\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0106-1105x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0106-1105x800.jpg 1105w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0106-552x400.jpg 552w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0106-768x556.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0106-1536x1112.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0106-2048x1483.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0106-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_710306232 {\n  width: 90%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"gap-148734047\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-148734047 {\n  padding-top: 25px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1976260329 {\n  padding-top: 50px;\n  padding-bottom: 50px;\n  background-color: rgb(5, 73, 169);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_1781995538\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<div class=\"row align-center\"  id=\"row-1434056991\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-479128364\" class=\"col medium-10 small-12 large-10\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div id=\"text-2483991650\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<h2><strong>2. ARGENTINA SINGS THE ECUADORIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM<\/strong><\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-2483991650 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">During the 5th South American League in 2002, while I was president of Club Mavort, we managed to qualify for the quarterfinals in the quadrangular tournament played in Quito, which meant we had to face the Argentine and continental champion Estudiantes de Olavarr\u00eda. The first game in Quito was won by Estudiantes in an intense contest.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">The return game was to be played in the city of Olavarr\u00eda, about two hours from Buenos Aires.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">When we arrived in Olavarr\u00eda, a delegation from the Republic of Ecuador School, which coincidentally had existed in that city, arrived at our hotel. The school's principal, Mr. Alfredo Pareja, invited the Mavort Club, as Ecuadorian champions, to visit the school. We gladly accepted, and upon arriving, we were pleasantly surprised to find the entire student and faculty lined up in the main courtyard. When the Mavort Club arrived, they sang the Ecuadorian national anthem. All of us present were filled with emotion and pride in being Ecuadorian.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">After the welcome, each of the club's players introduced themselves to the students, shared their life story, and then signed autographs. It was an unforgettable experience, leaving behind wonderful memories of sports.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-1489895880\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-987203389\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_259116568\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"776\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0107-1052x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0107-1052x800.jpg 1052w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0107-526x400.jpg 526w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0107-768x584.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0107-1536x1168.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0107-2048x1557.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0107-16x12.jpg 16w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_259116568 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1283934793\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_167858239\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"373\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0108-373x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0108-373x800.jpg 373w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0108-186x400.jpg 186w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0108-768x1648.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0108-716x1536.jpg 716w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0108-955x2048.jpg 955w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0108-6x12.jpg 6w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0108-scaled.jpg 1193w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 373px) 100vw, 373px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_167858239 {\n  width: 79%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1781995538 {\n  padding-top: 60px;\n  padding-bottom: 60px;\n  min-height: 300px;\n  background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_2079205657\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"is-border\"\n\t\tstyle=\"border-color:rgb(235, 235, 235);border-width:1px 0px 0px 0px;\">\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div id=\"text-729060717\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<h2><strong>3. BASKET OF VICTORY<\/strong><\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-729060717 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"row row-large align-middle align-center\"  id=\"row-1364889699\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1015417651\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">I had the opportunity to begin my playing career at Universidad Cat\u00f3lica when I was 19 years old, in 1980. We participated in the Pichincha Official Tournament that year, and in one of the first matches, we faced Liga Deportiva Universitaria, a great team, multiple-time Pichincha champions, where several idols from my youth played, such as Javier Martinez, Rolan Ponce, Diego Qui\u00f1onez, Carlos Espinoza, and others. At Universidad Cat\u00f3lica, my teammates included other great players like Marcelo \u201cChino\u201d Salazar, Mauricio Fern\u00e1ndez, Patricio Torres, and Rafael Cobo. The coach was Marco \u201cPapico\u201d Vallejo.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">That game is unforgettable in my mind; it was incredibly difficult. Liga tied the game at 81 points with just six seconds left. \u201cPapico\u201d Vallejo called a timeout to plan the final attack and instructed that the inbounds pass should go to Marcelo \u201cChino\u201d Salazar, who should drive to the basket. He said that if the basket was scored, he would win the game. As the youngest player on the team, I was confident that my more experienced teammates would secure the victory. When we inbounded the ball from the baseline with six seconds left, I saw Marcelo Salazar driving towards the basket defended by Liga. The player guarding me broke away to double-team Marcelo, forcing him to stop. To my surprise, I saw \"Chino,\" facing the double-team, start dribbling towards me and pass me the ball with one second remaining. Fortunately, I was able to catch it cleanly and jump instantly for a mid-range shot. In my mind, the ball was moving in slow motion, taking forever to reach the rim. Thankfully, the ball went in just as the final buzzer sounded, and I was practically frozen, trying to process what had just happened. Only the hugs and congratulations from the whole team made me celebrate that important victory, where Cat\u00f3lica pulled off a significant win in the history of these two traditional Quito teams.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">Hundreds more games followed, with wins and losses over so many years, but that game, one of the first I played at a professional level, remained etched in my memory.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1753208573\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0093-1200x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0093-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0093-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0093-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0093-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0093.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1753208573 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_2079205657 {\n  padding-top: 59px;\n  padding-bottom: 59px;\n  min-height: 300px;\n  background-color: rgb(228, 228, 228);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_1901513031\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"section-bg-overlay absolute fill\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"is-border\"\n\t\tstyle=\"border-color:rgb(235, 235, 235);border-width:1px 0px 0px 0px;\">\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div id=\"text-72381839\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<h2>4. HONORARY TIP-OFF AT THE 2002 VENEZUELAN PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE FINAL<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-72381839 {\n  text-align: center;\n  color: #ffffff;\n}\n#text-72381839 > * {\n  color: #ffffff;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"row row-large align-middle align-center\"  id=\"row-1609450930\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1893003789\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner box-shadow-2 box-shadow-5-hover\" style=\"background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);\" >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1343646175\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0094-1200x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0094-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0094-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0094-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0094-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0094.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1343646175 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#col-1893003789 > .col-inner {\n  padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1699257280\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center dark\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">Club Mavort played in the XXXIX Championship of Champion Clubs in Valdivia, Chile, in 2002.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">Our first game was against Delfines de Miranda, the Venezuelan champions. It was a great game for Mavort; they were ahead for most of the game and it looked like we were going to win, but in the last minute, the outstanding Venezuelan player Victor David Diaz made two consecutive three-pointers and turned the game around on us. I remember the Venezuelan team's celebration after beating us, doing what we call a pile-up in the center of the court. <\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">The Delfines de Miranda team then finished as South American champion in that tournament.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">After the game, we had the opportunity to befriend Danilo Diaz Granados, president of the Delfines Club and an influential figure in Venezuela. He congratulated us on the level of play shown by the Mavort Club in that tournament and was surprised by the level of the Ecuadorian club, Mavort. He kindly invited two members of the Mavort Club's board to attend the Venezuelan League final in Caracas that year, where his club, Delfines, was playing. He sent us the tickets, and Alfonso \"Pocho\" Pazmino and I traveled. The hotel and all expenses were paid for, a great gesture from Danilo.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">On the day of the final match between Delfines de Miranda and Guaros de Lara, before the opening tip-off, I heard over the arena's loudspeakers: \u201cWe invite engineer Wladimir Ortega, president of the Ecuadorian champion Club Mavort, to come to center court and perform the ceremonial first jump ball.\u201d Danilo hadn't told me about this detail he had arranged, and it was a complete surprise. I took the ball and performed the opening jump ball between the two finalists, receiving a thunderous ovation from the packed arena. These are the kinds of satisfactions that only sports can give you, and you can't easily buy them with money or other means. I will cherish this memory forever.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1901513031 {\n  padding-top: 59px;\n  padding-bottom: 59px;\n  min-height: 300px;\n  background-color: rgb(171, 171, 171);\n}\n#section_1901513031 .section-bg-overlay {\n  background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.78);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_1523729615\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"section-bg-overlay absolute fill\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div id=\"text-1789168593\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<h2><strong>5. MAVORT SOUTH AMERICAN SENSATION TEAM 2002: CONSUBASQUET<\/strong><\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-1789168593 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"row row-large align-middle\"  id=\"row-2094682150\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-2133557721\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-left\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">Club Mavort, as the 2001 Ecuadorian champion, participated in the V South American Basketball League in the four-team tournament held in Quito in February 2002. The group consisted of Franca of Brazil, Cocodrilos de Caracas of Venezuela, Piratas de Bogot\u00e1 of Colombia, and the host team, Club Mavort, from Quito, Ecuador. It was an intense tournament. Club Mavort defeated Piratas, then beat Cocodrilos in a spectacular match, and lost to Franca of Brazil. Based on the results, Mavort and Cocodrilos advanced to the quarterfinals, eliminating Franca and Piratas. This marked the first time in South American tournaments that an Ecuadorian team had eliminated a Brazilian team. In the quarterfinals, Club Mavort faced the Argentine and continental champion, Estudiantes de Olavarr\u00eda, a team of a very high caliber. Estudiantes managed to qualify by beating Mavort in Quito and Olavarria, in very competitive matches, in which the hierarchy of the Argentine team prevailed.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">Following this performance by Mavort, CONSUBASQUET declared the Mavort club \"South American Sensation Team 2002\", in clear recognition of the great performance of a club from a small country within South American basketball and with few relevant performances at the South American level.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">Regarding Mavort's achievement in 2002, I'm reminded of the need to rehabilitate the tarnished image of Ecuadorian basketball. In 2000, the Ecuadorian team ESPE suffered a historic 140-39 defeat against Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro, and Argentine commentators from DirecTV mocked Ecuadorian basketball, calling ESPE a \"little team of amateur players\"\u2014an offensive term. Two years later, after Mavort qualified by eliminating the Brazilian champion Franca and was declared the sensation of South America by CONSUBASQUET, I happened to see the same Argentine journalists from DirecTV at the coliseum. I approached them and had the opportunity to tell them not to speak ill of Ecuadorian basketball again, because Club Mavort had demonstrated that the sport in Ecuador could also be of a high caliber. The journalists acknowledged this new image of Ecuadorian basketball, wished us good luck, and encouraged us to continue our work. We are pleased to have cleared up negative comments about our basketball.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-845575749\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1160037866\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"737\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0109-737x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0109-737x800.jpg 737w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0109-368x400.jpg 368w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0109-768x834.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0109-1414x1536.jpg 1414w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0109-1886x2048.jpg 1886w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0109-11x12.jpg 11w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 737px) 100vw, 737px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1160037866 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_151227305\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"557\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0110-557x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0110-557x800.jpg 557w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0110-278x400.jpg 278w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0110-768x1104.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0110-1068x1536.jpg 1068w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0110-1425x2048.jpg 1425w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0110-8x12.jpg 8w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0110-scaled.jpg 1781w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 557px) 100vw, 557px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_151227305 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1523729615 {\n  padding-top: 60px;\n  padding-bottom: 60px;\n  background-color: rgb(193, 193, 193);\n}\n#section_1523729615 .section-bg-overlay {\n  background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\t<section class=\"section dark has-mask mask-arrow\" id=\"section_1507534844\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"section-bg-overlay absolute fill\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"is-border\"\n\t\tstyle=\"border-color:rgb(235, 235, 235);border-width:1px 0px 0px 0px;\">\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div id=\"text-3849691522\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong><span style=\"font-size: 120%;\">6. VICTORY OVER FLAMENGO, BUENOS AIRES 2013<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-3849691522 {\n  text-align: center;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-659878982\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-373079918\" class=\"col medium-4 small-12 large-4\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-shadow-2\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">One of the great achievements of Ecuadorian basketball was the historic victory of Club Mavort over the Brazilian champion Flamengo, an event that occurred in the quadrangular for the League of the Americas, played in Buenos Aires, in 2013. The final score was 95-93 in favor of Mavort.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-214027227\" class=\"col medium-4 small-12 large-4\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-shadow-2\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">This anecdote relates to the previous one, starting with Flamengo's victory over the Ecuadorian ESPE by 100 points in the year 2000. In that year 2000, Club Mavort was not yet the champion of Ecuadorian basketball, so it did not yet have the right to play in South American tournaments.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1912338550\" class=\"col medium-4 small-12 large-4\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-shadow-2\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">But that day I resolved to work tirelessly to take Club Mavort to the forefront of Ecuadorian basketball, first, and then to the international stage. In 2013, after winning four Ecuadorian National Leagues and achieving great results in international tournaments, the victory over Flamengo, the team that had humiliated Ecuadorian basketball 13 years earlier, confirmed that my efforts as president of Club Mavort had been worthwhile and had fulfilled the objectives set years before. Mission accomplished!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row\"  id=\"row-864060725\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-456499396\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1096592892\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0097-1200x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0097-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0097-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0097-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0097-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0097.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1096592892 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1896811950\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1814263437\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0098-1200x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0098-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0098-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0098-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0098-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0098.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1814263437 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1507534844 {\n  padding-top: 59px;\n  padding-bottom: 59px;\n  min-height: 300px;\n  background-color: rgb(5, 73, 169);\n}\n#section_1507534844 .section-bg-overlay {\n  background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_729347534\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t<div class=\"is-border\"\n\t\tstyle=\"border-color:rgb(235, 235, 235);border-width:1px 0px 0px 0px;\">\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<h2><strong>7. \u201cMY GOD STOP HELPING ME SO MUCH\u201d, VALDIVIA, CHILE, 2002<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"row row-large align-middle align-center\"  id=\"row-1773996489\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-2083329893\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner box-shadow-2 box-shadow-5-hover\" style=\"background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);\" >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_2044067182\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"746\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0111-1094x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0111-1094x800.jpg 1094w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0111-547x400.jpg 547w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0111-768x562.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0111-1536x1124.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0111-2048x1498.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0111-16x12.jpg 16w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_2044067182 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#col-2083329893 > .col-inner {\n  padding: 15px 15px 15px 15px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-2110659971\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">The Mavort club played in the XXXIX Champion Club Championship in Valdivia, Chile in 2002. In the first game, we lost at the last minute to Delfines de Miranda, from Venezuela, who in the long run were the champion of the tournament, then we beat Real Santa Cruz of Bolivia by 50 points.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">Our last game was against Atenas de C\u00f3rdoba, from Argentina. Whoever won would qualify for the final four for the title. At halftime, Club Mavort was winning by 20 points. There was great joy among all the members of the club's board at that moment, myself included, until something I remembered wiped the smile off my face. Qualifying for the final four meant we would have to stay several more days in Valdivia and give out additional prizes to the players, which worried me. Club Mavort had a small budget, a family budget, since my construction company, which wasn't large, financed it. We really went to the tournament with just enough money, and qualifying for the next round meant we had to spend funds we didn't have. I remember my expression at halftime against the Argentinian team, when we were winning by 20 points: \"My God, don't help me so much anymore,\" half-seriously, half-jokingly. In the second half, Atenas of Argentina reacted very well and turned the game around in the last minute (with some help from the referees) and they qualified. I was sad about the defeat, but I didn't suffer too much because of what I mentioned earlier.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_729347534 {\n  padding-top: 59px;\n  padding-bottom: 59px;\n  min-height: 300px;\n  background-color: rgb(240, 240, 240);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_1841287287\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"section-bg-overlay absolute fill\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div id=\"text-3841509235\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<h2><strong>8. MAVORT, ECUADOR'S NEW JOY<\/strong><\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-3841509235 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"row row-collapse row-full-width align-middle\"  id=\"row-1909496395\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-491480725\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_533480988\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"654\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0100-654x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0100-654x800.jpg 654w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0100-327x400.jpg 327w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0100-768x940.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0100-10x12.jpg 10w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0100.jpg 1080w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 654px) 100vw, 654px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_533480988 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-833887727\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">The first international tournament played by Club Mavort was the 2002 South American League, in the four-team tournament held in Quito, where two teams advanced to the quarterfinals. The participants were Franca from Brazil, Cocodrilos from Venezuela, Piratas from Colombia, and Mavort from Ecuador. Club Mavort had a great performance, qualifying by defeating Piratas and Cocodrilos, despite losing to Franca. In the end, Cocodrilos and Mavort advanced.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">There was great joy among the Ecuadorian public when they saw a team from their country qualify after a great performance. I remember a publication in the newspaper La Hora: \u201cMavort, the new joy of Ecuador,\u201d or one in Estadio magazine: \u201cA basket of greatness,\u201d among many others. Unforgettable memories of our first international experience.<\/span><\/p>\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_715060020\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"593\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA01121-593x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA01121-593x800.jpg 593w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA01121-296x400.jpg 296w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA01121-768x1037.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA01121-1138x1536.jpg 1138w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA01121-1517x2048.jpg 1517w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA01121-9x12.jpg 9w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA01121-scaled.jpg 1897w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_715060020 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#col-833887727 > .col-inner {\n  padding: 10% 10% 10% 10%;\n  max-width: 520px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1841287287 {\n  padding-top: 0px;\n  padding-bottom: 0px;\n  background-color: rgb(247, 247, 247);\n}\n#section_1841287287 .section-bg-overlay {\n  background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\t<section class=\"section dark\" id=\"section_1789291327\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"section-bg-overlay absolute fill\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<h2><strong>9. Champion in the USA, at 59 years of age<\/strong><\/h2>\n<div class=\"row row-collapse row-full-width align-middle\"  id=\"row-1085569631\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-852902892\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-left\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">In 2016, I decided to move to the United States, since all my children lived there, to reunite the family. Additionally, construction work in Ecuador had declined significantly. By 2019, I was living in Cypress, on the outskirts of Houston, Texas. Because basketball is my passion and I could still play, I went twice a week to LA Fitness, a gym with a high level of basketball. Initially, the young Americans were wary of me because I looked older, but they gave me a chance to play, and I had no problem keeping up and scoring many baskets in their games. I became friends with them. They told me that their group participated in the annual Cypress basketball tournament and invited me to join the team. I gladly accepted, and after decades, I was finally able to play in a high-level tournament. These teams rotate all their players throughout the games, so I played in every game and held my own. We reached the final and won it; I even managed to score 8 points in the final. What a way to cap off my passion for basketball, winning a championship in a US city at 59 years old. A deep sense of satisfaction; my body doesn't respond the same way anymore, but my passion for the game remains undiminished.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#col-852902892 > .col-inner {\n  padding: 5% 5% 5% 0px;\n  max-width: 520px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-2003470855\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_1471074719\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0102-1200x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0102-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0102-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0102-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0102-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0102.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_1471074719 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1789291327 {\n  padding-top: 0px;\n  padding-bottom: 0px;\n  background-color: rgb(255,255,255);\n}\n#section_1789291327 .section-bg-overlay {\n  background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.7);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_1409584144\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"section-bg-overlay absolute fill\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n<div class=\"row row-collapse align-center\"  id=\"row-572248542\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-630173063\" class=\"col small-12 large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<h2 style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>10. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CAPTAIN ON A COMMERCIAL FLIGHT<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">I fondly remember our second Ecuadorian national championship in 2009. Club Mavort defeated Club UTE 138-119 in the final game, with a stellar performance from Cuban-Ecuadorian Reynaldo Garc\u00eda, who scored 55 points. With that victory, Mavort won the 2009 championship, and we celebrated in grand style.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">The day after that match, I had to travel to the Galapagos Islands for work, as I was building the Banco Pichincha branch there. My son, Wladimir Andr\u00e9s, who was a teenager at the time, accompanied me. Upon boarding the plane, we were met by the pilot of the Tame airline, an acquaintance, Colonel Fernando Cano, brother of Jorge Cano, with whom I played for many years during my active playing days.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">After half an hour of flight, the plane's speakers came on, and the captain announced that engineer Wladimir Ortega, president of the Mavort club, was on board. The club had won the Ecuadorian Basketball League championship the previous night, and he asked the passengers to give me a round of applause. The passengers graciously gave me that round of applause, and I was filled with joy and pride by the captain's gesture. I loved seeing my son's expression when he witnessed this; he knew of my dedication to sports, and this experience on the plane was one of those satisfactions that only sports can bring. I am so grateful to Colonel Fernando Cano for this kind gesture.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#col-630173063 > .col-inner {\n  padding: 50px 0px 50px 0px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1805141504\" class=\"col large-12\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_703986629\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103-600x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103-600x800.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103-300x400.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103-9x12.jpg 9w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0103.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_703986629 {\n  width: 79%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\t<div id=\"gap-1637568530\" class=\"gap-element clearfix\" style=\"display:block; height:auto;\">\n\t\t\n<style>\n#gap-1637568530 {\n  padding-top: 50px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_1409584144 {\n  padding-top: 0px;\n  padding-bottom: 0px;\n  background-color: rgb(208, 208, 208);\n}\n#section_1409584144 .section-bg-overlay {\n  background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\t<section class=\"section\" id=\"section_103233267\">\n\t\t<div class=\"section-bg fill\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"section-bg-overlay absolute fill\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"section-content relative\">\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div id=\"text-565150141\" class=\"text\">\n\t\t\n\n<h2><strong>11. HUNDREDS OF GOOD PLAYERS AND FRIENDS.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\t\t\n<style>\n#text-565150141 {\n  text-align: left;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<div class=\"row row-collapse row-full-width align-middle\"  id=\"row-2074749429\">\n\n\n\t<div id=\"col-2049884865\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner text-center\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">In my 20 years as an active player and 25 years as president of Club Mavort, I had the opportunity to play alongside or lead hundreds of players, all friends and great people and athletes, so I couldn't possibly name them all, or if I did, I wouldn't want to leave anyone out. My gratitude to all of them for their efforts for the good of Ecuadorian basketball.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">In 1980, when I started playing in professional tournaments at Club Universidad Cat\u00f3lica, I remember as teammates famous and high-level players such as Marcelo \u201cChino\u201d Salazar, Mauricio Fern\u00e1ndez, Patricio Torres, Patricio Acosta, Rafael Cobo, Marco Vasquez, Juan Lopez de Alda, Nelson Ponce, and coach Marco \u201cPapico\u201d Vallejo, who appear in the attached photo.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">Later, playing for Cat\u00f3lica, CICP or Mavort, I must remember, among others, Iv\u00e1n Calder\u00f3n, Iv\u00e1n Grijalva, Jorge Cano, Ronal Cueva, Ramiro Alc\u00e1zar, Fernando Troya, Galo Valencia, Leonardo Sa\u00e1, Fernando Lucio, Jaime Zambrano, Fabi\u00e1n Salas, Alfredo Salgado, Pablo Acosta, Guillermo Gonz\u00e1lez and many more.<\/span><br \/><span style=\"font-size: 110%;\">The Mavort Club has hosted some of the best Ecuadorian players of the era, including Engels Tenorio, Carlos Carrera, Edmundo Goestchel, Carlos Carcelen, Ayub S\u00e1nchez, Marco S\u00e1nchez, Jeff Escalante, Iv\u00e1n Fuentes, Alfredo Salgado, Manuel Nazareno, Ra\u00fal Cardenas, Vicente Diaz, Jos\u00e9 Obando, and Reynaldo Garc\u00eda, among many others\u2014I think the list goes on and on. I'm sure they all remember their time at our club fondly. Likewise, the Mavort Club hired around 80 foreign players as reinforcements for the various tournaments we participated in, from 1989 to 2014. These players came from many countries, left a great impression on the club, and we managed to maintain our friendships despite the years and distances that have passed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#col-2049884865 > .col-inner {\n  padding: 10% 10% 10% 10%;\n  max-width: 520px;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div id=\"col-1404597924\" class=\"col medium-6 small-12 large-6\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-inner\"  >\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_442280613\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1020\" height=\"697\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0113-1170x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0113-1170x800.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0113-585x400.jpg 585w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0113-768x525.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0113-1536x1051.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0113-2048x1401.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0113-18x12.jpg 18w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_442280613 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t<div class=\"img has-hover x md-x lg-x y md-y lg-y\" id=\"image_2083190358\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"img-inner dark\" >\n\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0105-533x800.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0105-533x800.jpg 533w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0105-267x400.jpg 267w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0105-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0105-8x12.jpg 8w, https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG-20260325-WA0105.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 533px) 100vw, 533px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<style>\n#image_2083190358 {\n  width: 100%;\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n<style>\n#section_103233267 {\n  padding-top: 0px;\n  padding-bottom: 0px;\n  background-color: rgb(5, 73, 169);\n}\n#section_103233267 .section-bg-overlay {\n  background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.85);\n}\n<\/style>\n\t<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3948","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3948","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3948"}],"version-history":[{"count":184,"href":"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3948\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4152,"href":"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3948\/revisions\/4152"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wladimirortegabasquet.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3948"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}