The Red Devils of Mexico are motivated and inspired by National Professional Basketball League. With one week left before the regular season ends, they have everything to qualify for the playoffs with a direct berth. Not bad for a team that debuted this year and in which even its players recognize that the start was a bit difficult for them as they were a new group, until they built chemistry and established streaks that placed them in the top positions.
“I feel that What has given us the victories is the fact that we already feel like a real family. The other day we went to have a barbecue with the team and staff. “We are all very happy with the work we have done,” he acknowledged. Gael BonillaMexico player, in an interview with MILLENNIUM–The Hobby.
2024 has been a unique year for the organization. In addition to their foray into the LNBP, they were also pioneers in the Mexican Softball Leaguein addition to being champions in the Mexican Baseball League. The team wants to extend the success of the institution to burst sport.
“We have the expectation of winning a championship. But we understand that we must first be united and have a smaller challenge before reaching that final. We struggled a bit at the start of the season, but now we’re at our best,” added Michael Smith.
No room for egos
To win, it is important that everyone contributes. Far from there being individualities in the team or depending a lot on a single player, in Diablos Rojos they have established a dynamic in which everyone contributes and they have brought success that is not entirely common in franchises that are just starting out.
“We have a great squad, with between 10 and 12 players who make the rotation. We all contribute and that is why we have great performance… A player can come in for 20 minutes and contribute, which is why we have won consecutively.“We don’t get so tired and there isn’t a single point of reference, since everyone gets to have their night,” said Bonilla, who highlighted that despite being the youngest in Diablos, his teammates don’t treat him like a rookie.
Far from wanting to seek the spotlight and stand out from the rest, Smith has worked hard to know what his teammates want, understand how they feel comfortable when playing, understand the roles of each one and promote their strengths. It is never easy to establish these dynamics and they tend to be more common situations in teams that have been around for more years, which is what Diablo has done in more than 20 games.
“For us, it is a season of first times, since we are already fighting for the first games and we are looking to get to those playoffs. It’s incredible, in the history of the League there is no team that has done that, for a debuting organization. In each game I learn more about ourselves and we create a better team, it is the most important thing for me,” said the American.
They contribute their experience
The Red Devils trusted Gael and Michael because of the resume he has. At 21 years old, Bonilla has had the opportunity to play in Spain with Barcelona already one of the highest levels with Capitanes de la Ciudad de México in the NBA G League; Smith has had experience in Germany, Uruguay, Brazil and Mexico, where he was champion and MVP of the 2022 Finals with Abejas de León.
As the first confirmed hires in the team’s history, both are grateful for the trust and demonstrate their journey in the sport with outstanding performances that bring the team closer to the playoffs and that, they hope, will help win that title.
“I can still do a little more in attack and defense, but I think I’m doing it perfectly so that the balance of the team doesn’t go down.. If I have to take the shot, I take it; If I have to pass the ball, I do it; I also have a lot of confidence because of everything the coach has told me when making my shots,” said the Ecatepec native.
“Each country has its own style of basketball, so having that information in my game, and being able to play with different types of players, organizations, coaches has helped me develop my mentality, and have a different variety of my knowledge of this sport “Smith concluded.
RGS
