Argentine coach Nestor ‘Che’ García has stepped down from his role with Los Piratas de La Guaira in Venezuela. He will continue to serve as the head coach for the Dominican Republic national team, a position he has held since 2022.
García boasts an impressive resume, having previously coached both the Argentine and Venezuelan national teams. He led Argentina to victory in the South American Championship in 2012 and secured the title with Venezuela in 2014 and 2016. Under his guidance, the Dominican Republic qualified for two FIBA World Cups in 2019 and 2023, achievements described by Gran Canaria as “two of the greatest accomplishments in the history of the Dominican team.”
At the club level, ‘Che’ García has achieved success in Argentina with Peñarol de Mar del Plata and San Lorenzo, in Venezuela with Trotamundos Carabobo and Marinos de Anzoátegui, and in Uruguay with Biguá de Villa Biarritz.
The Argentine coach brings valuable experience in Spanish basketball, which is expected to facilitate a swift adaptation. During his tenure at Fuenlabrada, he achieved a historic start to the ACB season, guiding the team to the Copa del Rey and demonstrating his skill in maximizing the performance of mid-tier rosters.
He replaces Jaka Lakovic at Gran Canaria, whose team is currently in 16th place out of 18 in the national league standings, with 7 wins and 18 losses. They are just one win ahead of the relegation zone, currently occupied by Andorra.
