Champions Tinguiririca fight to stay alive

Liga Nacional Movistar Basketball champions Tinguiririca SF have denied reports they are to shut down.

San Fernando – It was only a couple of weeks ago that Tinguiririca won the league with a stunning 3-1 success against Osorno in the south.

Fans congregated in the Plaza de Armas of San Fernando to celebrate the triumph and the future looked rosy.

However, reports on Thursday suggested the club was on the brink of closure because sponsors Tinguiririca Energía were no longer able to bankroll the team.

With the news spreading like wildfire, the club´s board of directors moved swiftly to set the record straight.

They have admitted that Tinguiririca Energía will no longer fund the club, but that they are actively seeking other funding and that these moves are progressing well.

In their statement, the board of directors said: “We want to inform everyone that Tinguirirca San Fernando is far from closing its doors and stays actively working in that line.”

The club have stated they are optimistic of starting the 2014-15 season, in which Tinguiririca are due to represent Chile in the South American club competition as well as defend their domestic title.

It may well be that Tinguiririca will have to cut their budget if they want to stay in business and that could have an impact on their coacing staff and players, who will be in demand after their superb season.

The club are set to have meetings with other businesses in San Fernando to see if they want to come on board.

The club statement added: “We want to invite them to participate actively in the project and to achieve their identification absolutely and definitively with the community.”