Vasco debut in Copa Sul-Americana with cut budget, rushed squad

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Papo na Colina

·9 de octubre de 2025

Vasco debut in Copa Sul-Americana with cut budget, rushed squad

The Vasco da Gama basketball team begins its journey in the South American League this Thursday amid a scenario of overcoming adversity and uncertainty. After months of indecision, a severe budget cut, and the departure of an investor, the club managed to assemble a roster at the last minute. The team, announced just three days before the debut, now has the mission to prove its strength on the court.

+ Basketball: Vasco debuts in the South American League this Thursday; check out the games and where to watch

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Financial crisis and investor’s departure nearly ended the team

The 2025/26 season began with a serious crisis behind the scenes. According to the portal ge, the project suffered a drastic budget cut. Furthermore, in July, businessman Pedro Ortega, one of the partners in the sport, announced his departure citing management irregularities. The situation was so critical that the club asked to be left out of the NBB’s opening tournament.

Coach Léo Figueiró, one of the remaining members of the project, vented about the difficulties. He stated that the end of the team would be a “tremendous loss” and that keeping the team together was only possible thanks to a collective effort. The coach declared:

“Sometimes sport does things for you, and sometimes you have to do things for sport. A team like Vasco could not leave the basketball scene in this way. (…) Everyone joined forces to keep the team standing.”

Léo Figueiró stayed on for the 2025/2026 project – Photo: Maurício Almeida

Roster revamped with seven new players

With the reduced budget, Vasco lost key players such as Matheus Eugeniusz and Rafael Paulichi, as well as idol Marquinhos, who retired.

To rebuild the roster, the club kept only three athletes (Alê Vernizzi, Gustavo Basílio, and Juan) and signed seven new players in record time: Elias, Guilherme Magna, Honorato, Lucas Zibbechi, Pedro Nunes, Ícaro, and Jonathan.

The debut in the South American League will be this Thursday, against Ferro Carril from Argentina, at 7:10 PM, in Sucre, Bolivia. The Gigante da Colina has already won the tournament twice, in 1999 and 2000.