Celebrations, basketball, a tribute to Teresa de León and a “golden basket” at the 43rd Ramón Castañeyra Góngora Memorial

Los Muyayos, in the men’s senior category, and Brigada, in the women’s senior category, were crowned champions on Sunday at the 43rd Ramón Castañeyra Góngora Memorial – 24 Hours of Basketball. The event once again turned the Oasis Sports Pavilion into one of the main meeting points of the Fiestas del Rosario in Puerto del Rosario.

The tournament brought together 46 teams, from the infantil category to veterans. More than 70 children also took part in the Benjamín and Minibasket gathering held on Saturday. Play continued uninterrupted for 29 hours, from that morning until the event closed on Sunday.

After 37 hours of basketball, the competition ended with an exciting finish to the men’s senior tournament, decided by a “golden basket” – one of the event’s tie-break rules.

Sudden death brings an exciting final to a close

The most eagerly anticipated moment came in the men’s senior final between Los Muyayos and All Estrellados. The stands at the Oasis filled up as spectators watched a closely fought game that went down to the wire.

Los Muyayos returned to the final with a team built around players from Corralejo and strengthened for the competition. Their opponents were the men’s tournament’s surprise package: All Estrellados, an unfamiliar team made up of local players alongside players with experience in high-level divisions.

The final’s deadlock was settled under a rule that differs from those used in federated competitions. In the event of a tie, the tournament rules provide for sudden death, or a “golden basket”: the first team to score wins.

That happened for the first time in a final, when a free throw by Los Muyayos decided the tournament. The organisers have listened to feedback from supporters and teams and will consider changing their rules for future editions to introduce a two-minute period of extra time before sudden death, but only in finals.

In the women’s competition, Brigada retained their title after beating Las Clipper. The team, made up of cadet players, sprang a surprise in their opening game against Recess, a former champion. They went on to reach the final, where they were unable to overcome the experience and strength of the defending champions.

The performances were another reminder that there is more to the 24 Hours than the score. Tiro y Rezo received the Andrés Valerón Award for best performance for an act combining music, dance, character acting and several costume changes.

The jury rated their act highest in one of the categories that best captures the Memorial’s celebratory side. Many teams spend weeks preparing their names, uniforms, choreography and performances, taking the competition far beyond the ball and the baskets.

Adrián, from Bombillo Rojo, won the Javi Calero long-range shooting contest, another of the Memorial’s traditional events.

From the infantil category to veterans over 24 hours

The youth categories completed the competition line-up. In the girls’ cadet category, El Baizo were crowned champions after beating Al Triplito 32–21, while in the boys’ cadet category Los Bolichosos defeated Los Blues 65–23.

In the infantil round-robin tournament, CB Los Últimos finished first, Las Nietas de Pepe came second and Tamofire took third place.

There was also a place for those who have been involved in Fuerteventura basketball for decades. In the veterans’ game, Fuerteventura beat CAF 41–28.

A moving farewell in memory of Teresa de León

The most moving feature of this year’s event was the widespread tribute to Teresa de León, one of its founders, who died this year. Her famous expressions, including “sí misté”, “chiquillos de porra”, “una caña porqueriusa” and “las chicas son guerreras”, adorned the cups at the food stall.

Teresa de León was not only a driving force behind basketball in Fuerteventura, as former president of the now-defunct Fuerteventura Basketball Federation, but also someone loved by everyone. “Tere wouldn’t have wanted to be remembered with a sad moment such as a minute’s silence. We felt that this, with her funny and authentic phrases, would be a much better way to remember her,” said the MERACAS collective.

The event ended with the prize-giving, led by councillor for Festivities Tacoremi Gutiérrez, Sports councillor Luis Chacón and Urban Planning councillor Ana Hernández. Before that, participants enjoyed the traditional Foam Party behind the church.

The Ramón Castañeyra Góngora Memorial: more than 40 years of history

The Ramón Castañeyra Góngora Memorial is a social, recreational and festive event centred on basketball, held as part of the Fiestas del Rosario since 1984. As a sporting competition, it is unofficial; although based on basketball, it has its own rules, which differ from those used in federated competitions.

The event adopted the name Ramón Castañeyra Góngora Memorial in 1984, at the second edition of the 24 Hours of Basketball. The same group that organised the first tournament in 1983 – young people from Fuerteventura involved in basketball – decided to establish the MERACAS Collective (Ramón Castañeyra Memorial) to continue the event and remember their late friend on the last weekend of every September.

More than 40 years on, the event continues with the support of the same group and the involvement of a second generation working to keep the Memorial going.

Once a year, Ramón’s family and friends, together with everyone who joins the organising team, come together in his memory – but above all to celebrate Fuerteventura’s great basketball festival, promote the sport and offer all participants a place to meet and have fun during the Fiestas del Rosario.