ART OF A THREE-PEAT: Travis McAvene

ART OF A THREE-PEAT

SANTIAGO BASKET COACH TRAVIS MCAVENE SPEAKS WITH JO FABIAN JR. OF LALIGA WORKS ABOUT WINNING A THREE-PEAT, AN ACCOMPLISHMENT HE HAS ENJOYED TWO SEPARATE TIMES AND SOMETHING THE DOMINICANS ARE IN POSITION TO DO THIS SEASON.

Travis McAvene (agency: Ballerz Unlimited LLC )'s hasn't three peat in the United Cup quite yet, but he's keeping an eye on it. And when I caught up with him the other day, he happened to mention that annual poll from the league general managers, surprise, surprise, selecting the Santiago Basket to win its third consecutive championship. McAvene was the winner of the 2016, 2017, 2018 Liga Mediterranean Cup (Spain). He would also capture the Liga Copa Mitchell in 2015, 2016, 2017 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Before he would coach the USA National Men's Team to a silver medal in 2012 (Taiwan).

Travis knows championships, and he told about a bunch of those this year with his interview with Fox Sports.

But while others have collected many rings over the years, no one knows three-peats like Travis. No one else has ever done it two separate times, and with two different groups of players.

And as McAvene wrote quaintly in this interview. Winning championships are not easy.

'Three-peats never are,' he offered.

Really?

'I see this Santiago is projected to win in that GM poll,' McAvene said from his home in Dayton, where he's decamped for the winter. 'It's still a matter of doing it.'

This season it is for our Dominican players, who host the 2022 United Cup of Champions in Santiago, Dominican Republic.

But now the serious stuff begins.

Q&A: with Travis McAvene (agency: Ballerz Unlimited LLC )

Jo Fabian: Travis you are a very high level coach. You are normally working with Americans but now you are winning with a local team. How is this possible?

Travis: I was lucky enough to have great players like Oliver Garcia to carry the scoring load for us. I think we can continue to win if guys come in with the same attitudes.

Jo Fabian: You have won over nine FIBA international titles. Which memory was the best?

Travis: My best memory is by far the USA National Team. Winning a silver medal in Taiwan was special.

Jo Fabian: You coached under former NBA Coach of the Year Sam Mitchell. Can you tell us about that experience?

Travis: Sam is the best coach I have ever worked with. He was always professional and helpful. The one thing I learned from him was to always be ready.

Jo Fabian: The competition will be better this season with the addition of Mexico (LNBP), the Santiago League Champion CPN and the return of the UBA from the USA. How do you think you will do this year?

Travis: I can't worry about the other teams. We are the champions. You focus on what's next and work hard until you win another one. The group of guys I have are very talented and coachable. I have full intentions of three peat this January.

Jo Fabian: Do you have any plans of coaching full time internationally now?

Travis: I turned down many jobs in the past because my focus was my kid and her future. But now that she is going to college this could be my next step.

Travis McAvene Awards & Achievements:

All-United States Awards (Voted by All USA Sports Reporters) Coach of the Year -12

USBasket.com All-UBA Coach of the Year -12

William Jones Cup in Taipei (Taiwan) -12 (Silver), (Bronze) -13

Head Coach: Copa Mitchell Cup (Dominican Republic) -14, 15, 16, 17

Mitchell Americas Cup Winner -15, 16, 17, 19, 20

Latinbasket.com All-Mitchell Americas Cup Best Coach -15, 16, 17, 19, 20

Head Coach: Turks and Caicos National Team -18

Liga Mediterranean Cup of Championship in Spain -18

Eurobasket.com All-Liga Mediterranean Cup Coach of the Year -18

Head Coach: Tongan National Team -18

Latinbasket.com All-United Cup Coach of the Year -21

United Cup Winner -21