The Freseros de Iraputo (English: Irapuato Strawberry Growers) is a Mexican professional basketball team based in Irapuato, Guanajuato. The Freseros compete in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP), the top professional basketball league in Mexico, as a member of the league's West Division. The team plays its home games at the Inforum, with a capacity of 3,000 spectators.
| Freseros de Irapuato | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Conference | West |
| League | LNBP |
| Founded | 2023 |
| History | Freseros de Irapuato (2023–present) |
| Arena | Inforum |
| Capacity | 3,000 |
| Location | Irapuato, Guanajuato, Mexico |
| President | Alejandro Marcocchio Romero |
| Head coach | Walter McCarty |
The Freseros are the first professional basketball team to play in Irapuato.[1]
History edit
On 20 February 2023, the team was presented at a press conference in Irapuato as an expansion team in the Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP), with a women's team debuting that May and a men's team debuting in August.[2][3] It was announced that they would be playing at the Inforum, which would be renovated to accommodate 3,000 spectators.[2][3] The team president, Alejandro Marcocchio Romero, who is also president of the defending champion Abejas de León, stated that he was contacted by the municipal president of Iraputo, Lorena Alfaro García, about bringing a team to the city.[2] The project was undertaken as a collaboration between private investors and the municipal and state governments, with the Guanajuato state government apportioning MXN$18 million for the Inforum renovations.[3]
After an 0–8 start to their inaugural season, the team fired head coach Steve Walton and hired Walter McCarty for the role.[4]
Notable players edit
Note: Flags indicate national team eligibility at FIBA-sanctioned events. Players may hold other non-FIBA nationality not displayed.
| Criteria |
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To appear in this section a player must have either:
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References edit
- ^ "Irapuato tendrá basquetbol profesional: presentan a los Freseros". Periódico Correo (in Spanish). 20 February 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ a b c Yepez, Monserrat (20 February 2023). "Irapuato presenta nuevos equipos 'freseros' para Liga de Baloncesto Profesional". Milenio (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ a b c Reyes, Oscar (20 February 2023). "Es oficial: habrá basquetbol profesional en Irapuato". El Sol de Irapuato (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Se va Steve Walton y llega Walter McCarty, ex NBA, al timón de Freseros de Irapuato". Deporte Digital MX (in Spanish). 11 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.