Franco Balbi

Franco Balbi
Flamengo
Position Point Guard
League Novo Basquete Brasil
Personal information
Born (1989-08-21) August 21, 1989
Junín, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Nationality Argentinian
Listed height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Career information
NBA draft 2011 / Undrafted
Playing career 2007–present
Career history
2006–2009 Ciclista Juninense
2009-2011 Quimsa
2011 San Martín de Corrientes
2011-2013 Ciclista Juninense
2013–2016 Argentino de Junín
2016–2018 Ferro Carril
2018– Flamengo
Career highlights and awards

Franco Nicolás Balbi (born August 21, 1989), is an Argentinian professional basketball player. A 6'0" (1.83 m) point guard who currently plays for Flamengo in the Novo Basquete Brasil (NBB).[1]

Professional career

Franco Balbi started playing for Club Villa Belgrano in the city of Junín when he was 5, and also played for Los Indios de Junín in the youth level, before arriving at Ciclista Juninense were he made his Liga Nacional de Básquet debut on January 14, 2007, against Regatas Corrientes. The following season, Ciclista Juninense got relegated and had to play at the Torneo Nacional de Ascenso, with Balbi turning into a key player, having more minutes and great displays, which made Quimsa from Santiago del Estero sign him up for the 2009/10 season, marking his return to the first division.[2] That same season he suffered a severe injury that made him lose minutes in the following one, ultimately making Quimsa terminate his contract. Quickly he managed to find a new club, San Martín de Corrientes,[3] which he helped achieve promotion to the first division by finishing as runner-ups in the Torneo Nacional de Ascenso.

In the following season he returned to Ciclista Juninense to play in the second division.[4] After two good seasons, he signed with local rivals Argentino de Junín for the 2013/14 season, were he would return to play under his first professional head coach, Adrián Capelli.

With Argentino de Junín he played in both the 2013/14 Liga Nacional de Básquet and the Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol.[5] It was a great season for both him and the club, with the team making the semifinals of both tournaments. In the 2014/15 he became a regular starter for Argentino de Junín, once again playing in the Liga Nacional de Básquet and the Liga Sudamericana de Básquetbol, becoming a stabilished player in the argentinian league and receiving a lot of praise from local press and players. He ended the season being called up to training camp with the Argentina national basketball team.[6]

Ferro

On May 23, 2016, he signed with Ferro for the 2016–17 Liga Nacional de Básquet season.[7]

Flamengo

On June 21, 2018, he signed with Flamengo for the 2018–19 NBB season, his first experience outside Argentina.[1]

Argentinian national team

After a good 2014/15 season with Argentino de Junín he was called up by Argentina national basketball team for the first time. He made his debut against Uruguay in Olavarría.[8]

LNB career statistics

Season Team GP MPG 2P% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
2013–14Argentino de Junín5023.3.472.410.7382.242.11.2.029.34
2014–15Argentino de Junín5429.6.416.309.8223.35.571.41.0911.48
2015–16Argentino de Junín6232.4.395.302.8224.96.191.24.1311.61
2016–17Ferro Carril6127.5.393.286.7233.516.151.33.059.28
2017–18Ferro Carril3830.1.492.396.7793.715.501.21.1111.61
Career26528.58.434.341.7773.535.11.27.0810.66

References

  1. 1 2 "Flamengo anuncia a contratação do armador argentino Franco Balbi". globoesporte.com. 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  2. ↑ "Franco Balbi presentado en Quimsa". djweb.com.ar.
  3. ↑ "San Martín sumó a Franco Balbi". pickandroll.com.ar. 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  4. ↑ "Franco Balbi vuelve a Ciclista". pickandroll.com.ar. 2010-12-24. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  5. ↑ "Franco Balbi a un paso de Argentino de Junín". basquetplus.com. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  6. ↑ "Argentino de Junín extendió su vínculo con el base Franco Balbi". basquetplus.com. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  7. ↑ "Franco Balbi se suma a Ferro". ferrocarriloeste.org.ar. 2016-05-22. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
  8. ↑ "Franco Balbi: La satisfación de haber vestido la camiseta de la Selección Argentina". Diario Democracia. 2015-07-13. Retrieved 2018-07-10.
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