Excitement, Basketball & Friendship: A Memorial Born from a 1983 Camp in Jacomar
From the Memorial Ramón Castañeyra Góngora, we are proud to open the festivities of Puerto del Rosario with a proclamation rooted in emotion and fun—just like the 24 Hours of Basketball. It is an honor to launch the city’s celebrations alongside our community, taking the public on a journey through sport, party, camaraderie, love, and a friendship that has endured for more than forty years.
I didn’t remember his voice because I was very small. So, a couple of weeks ago, Uncle Agustín sent us a video of Jacomar, Guaxara, Iria, my sisters and me. We were in shock: seeing and hearing my father, my mother, and friends as they were in their youth—camping, playing guitar and singing by the sea—was a true revelation.
Those moments had to kick‑off the proclamation, because they sparked everything that followed: the Holy Week of 1983, the first 24 Hours of Basketball a few months later, and the Day of the Rosario when Ramón left us playing football during the festivities. All of this gave birth to the Memorial Ramón Castañeyra Góngora.
The First Spark
My sister Guaxara began the speech, evoking those memories:
“In the Jacomar ravine—or any other spot on the island—that’s where it all started. Between shells, reeds and guitars, a friendship was forged that still lasts today. I was four months old at that camp, and five years later my father Ramón passed away. So I am the voice of that group of young people who have kept a friend’s memory alive for forty‑three years.”
A Tribute from Manolo Fleitas
Manolo Fleitas, who studied with my father in Gran Canaria, penned a heartfelt tribute:
“That beloved friend possessed a vital energy that enveloped others and escaped his own person. He had decisive power, beautiful ideals, great self‑confidence and a wonderful heart. He read Machado, Miguel Hernández, Tolstoy, Hemingway, Gandhi… and Millares Sall.
Sometimes he felt as free as the wind; other times he was trapped by his island, from which he never wanted to escape. He dreamed of freedom, loved music, traditions and the sport he always practiced.”
— Manuel Fleitas, 7 October 2003, Canarias 7
How the Memorial Began
My mother, Belinda, recalled the humble origins:
“The first editions of the 24 Hours were held between the Oasis, the little stalls, invitation tournaments, the ‘cochitos’ (especially for the kids), and a game called chaparrianca: ¡y el 7 pa’ Pepe! The people who survived the night and early morning—except those who stayed at the Oasis with their chores—would go at dawn to eat churros at Tinguaro V. Lico always brought the churros to the Oasis.”
In 1983, Ramón and friends such as Vicgoriano Morales “Torano”, Juan Carlos Lavandera “Lico”, and Andrés Valerón organized the first edition of the 24 Hours of Basketball, right after the Oasis was roofed for the first time—a project Ramón, an engineer, spearheaded.
“We were a young, enthusiastic society back then, with a very recent dictatorship behind us. We were generally very involved in society and politics… Ramón was also the General Coordinator of the Majorera Assembly.” – Belinda de León
The following year the Memorial officially began. While many have spoken of Torano’s love for Ramón, little was said about the love Ramón felt for Torano.
The Historic Nenedán
My fascination with history led me to discover how a remote island produced quality basketball. Pioneers such as Orlando Medina Castañeyra, Miguel Rey—the island’s first Physical‑Education graduate—and the American coach Mr. Ernst trained local talent.
The Nenedán transformed into a selection of the island’s best teams, climbing to Segunda División (the second tier of Spanish basketball, below the national league and later the ACB) and staying there for several years—a remarkable achievement.
From left to right, standing and crouching: Domingo de León, Javi Calero, José Felix Benítez, Antonio Calero, Juan Pedro Morales, Torano Morales, Guillermo Perdomo, Ramón Castañeyra, and Luciano Calero.
An Oasis of History and Fun in the Rosario Festivities
In 1983, the year the Nenedán was relegated, a group of friends organized the first 24 Hours. Since then, the event has always taken place on the last full weekend of September. When it coincides with the opening fair, the stands fill with elegantly dressed crowds; otherwise, the Oasis becomes the heart of the celebration.
Elders recall that in the 1960s the baskets were propped up with sticks in a barrel filled with stones, and the Cuadras de Pérez—the stone walls of the oldest images—preceded even that. The first modern pavement, a distinctive green surface, lasted over thirty years. Rumors claimed it came from the Soviet Union; when it was replaced in 2014 by a low‑quality blue slab, people salvaged pieces to keep at home.
“The Oasis, formally a material, inert element, is actually a space that awakens strong feelings because of all the experiences it has hosted.” – Author
The Unforgettable Figure of Lico
Among all, Juan Carlos Lavandera “Lico” stands out. From the early 1980s he single‑handedly maintained the Oasis, crafted his own tools to repair broken equipment, coached children, and was essential to the 24 Hours.
Lico “laughed inside” at every scolding he gave—a nuance we only understood as we grew older. His humor and iconic phrases, especially “Torostostós las alperdices”, are still remembered.
Friends and Awards
Andrés Valerón embodied the spark and humor that define the tournament:
- “Do you speak English? Give me a sentence with ‘star’. I should be ‘star’ sleeping.”
In his honor, the Best Performance Award recognizes non‑sporting contributions each year—dance, costumes, poetry, crowd animation, and more.
The Triple‑Shot Contest pays tribute to Javi Calero, a former Nenedán player who reached the lower ranks of the Spanish national team before a tragic accident cut his promising career short.
The Oasis: A Unique Indoor Venue
It is essential to acknowledge the clubs, coaches, and board members who devote their lives to promoting basketball, as well as the schools that lend their courts for afternoon training.
Today, the Oasis remains the only indoor municipal facility in Puerto del Rosario for basketball and volleyball. For futsal or handball, the local government offers no dedicated venue (the Insular Pavilion in Fabelo belongs to the Cabildo). Without schools and the dedication of sports clubs, indoor sports in our city would be impossible.
“The lack of facilities dates back decades; successive administrations have failed to understand, address, or solve this systemic issue.” – Author
My Memorial and Others
I also spoke of my “second father,” Pepe Clavijo, a great coach who introduced me to basketball while we lived in Gran Canaria and raised me alongside my mother, instilling values that have guided my life.
For twenty‑five years I have participated, now as a veteran, to keep the tradition alive. I have learned that there are as many “24 Hours” as there are people—each team, referee, organizer, and spectator experiences it uniquely.
We even joke that the memorial “dynamizes the economy” by selling shirts, markers, and anti‑inflammatories, or that the weekend the CAAF reports no incidents because nobody showers.
24 Hours: A People’s Event
Through the Oasis we have watched generations come and go, renewed by the mini‑basket gatherings we now revive. Children teach us that sport can simply be about playing, having fun, and being with friends—the score doesn’t matter.
Torano (Victoriano Morales) summed it up:
“How much? No, man, that’s too much… You don’t want to rob the town, do you? This belongs to the people!”
Torano quietly taught us to take the reins, lead by example, and remember that the event’s importance lies in serving the community.
Closing Remarks
We thank the Mayor of Puerto del Rosario, David de Vera, the Councilor of Festivities, Tacoremi Gutiérrez, and the President of the Cabildo, Lola García, for their ongoing support.
From the historic and current board—Torano Morales, Rita Álvaro (representing Juan Carlos Lavandera’s family), Belinda de León, Teresa de León, Ramón Castañeyra, Guaxara Castañeyra, Iria Clavijo, and myself, Janey Castañeyra, proud President—we celebrate a story that began over forty years ago, rooted in camping, music, and a lasting friendship.
“The void left by Ramón was filled with the energy that has brought us here. This is the story of how his memory became a living legacy for Puerto del Rosario.”
¡Viva la Virgen del Rosario!