February 09, 2012
Manuel Raga (1963-1977)
Manuel Raga
Teams: Villa Aldama (MEX), Varese (ITA), Lugano (SWI)
Summary: One of the first great athletic guards in European basketball, Manuel Raga is arguably the best Mexican basketball player ever. A great defensive player with outstanding jumping and rebounding skills, Raga joined Varese in 1968, starting the club's golden age alongside players like Aldo Ossola and Dino Meneghin. Raga helped Varese to three Italian League crowns, three Italian Cups and three Euroleague titles from 1968 to 1975 as one of the most fun-to-watch players in basketball. "The Flying Mexican" was simply unstoppable and way ahead of his own era.
Manolo Raga
WHAT THEY SAY...
Manuel Raga: "Well, for me it was not really a surprise - I knew I was among a group of players from the old times that could be part of a kind of Hall of Fame in the future in Europe - and this fills me with satisfaction. So I think that all the wins I had in Europe back me up as a legitimate choice for the group. Everyone thought that Varese would go backwards with the arrival of a small Mexican guy, but little by little, the wins arrived until we dominated Europe."

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