Meet the... Oriol Ribas

Interview with Oriol Ribas, the senior delegate 

| Tuesday, 12 February 2019

The life of Oriol Ribas cannot be understood without basketball. When he was little, he started stepping on the parquet floors as a family tradition – his father and brother were dedicated to it – but from the first moment he saw that it was more than just fun. After his time as a player, he decided to continue dedicating himself to the sport he was most passionate about but off the court: as a coach in his native Bescanó. In 2015, he received a call from Jesús Escosa, with whom he had joined the CAFE degree at EUSES, to be part of the club. The yes was instantaneous.

What is your experience at the club? How did you get there?

From an early age, my life has been related to basketball. As a player, having to leave my town, Bescanó, because there was no men’s basketball team until it was formed. And then as a coach, also in Bescanó, the root of my familiarity with the club and the town. Then, in 2015, I received a call from Jesús Escosa to see if I was interested in joining the club as a grassroots coach. And my yes was resounding because I believed it was the best way to develop my abilities to train.

In 2017 I was offered to be part of the senior technical staff they wanted to create.

What does the club mean to you personally and professionally?

I think that Básquet Girona is the best team in the province both in terms of players, coaches and structure. Being here has given me a privileged journey and knowledge. First at the base, where I could put my skills into practice. And now in the seniors, alongside Quim Costa, Milo Nunes or Jordi Moncanut, authentic references from whom I am learning a lot.

What is the role of the Team Manager?

My main role is to facilitate the task for all senior members. For example, coordinating training schedules, preparing the trainer’s equipment and letting the players know what will be available, preparing the court lights and training balls… In other words, let everyone who is part of the first team dedicate themselves to their role without worrying about what they will need.  

Regarding these last two seasons, between the EBA and LEB Silver categories, have you found many differences?

I think that the fact that the human group has been maintained has been a plus because we already knew each other’s ways of working. The changes have been a sum of all aspects: more quality and physicality in the players, longer trips, more matches, more hours of training, more work off the court… It should also be noted that these two senior seasons, despite being in EBA or LEB Plata, the structure is more professional than these categories.  

What is your day to day at the club?

On Mondays I prepare the journeys when we play away from home and inform ourselves about the next opponent. The rest of the week I prepare the training material an hour before starting and ten minutes before each training, I make sure that all the players have arrived and, if not, I call them to find out the reason for the delay. Once we start the session, I am available to the coach to take care of anything the team needs. Once the training is over, I take care of collecting everything and notify the players if there is a change of schedule for the next training.

On a personal level, which place in the province of Girona do you like the most?

I like the mountains more than the beach. I would highlight the peak I have next to my house, Sant Grau. It is a quiet place, where many people go and has good views to see the town of Bescanó from up there. And another place would be the Ermita de Santa Brígida d’Amer where, on Wednesday afternoons when we are free, I escape there by running or walking.

A song you like?

‘Invincibles’ of the Cathars.