The real story of the barefoot giants of the mountains
- Sergio Cervantes
- Jul 5, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: Nov 10, 2024
My short story, Basquetbol, was inspired by a team of indigenous, basketball playing, Triqui kids from the mountain villages of Oaxaca, Mexico. Dubbed the “barefoot giants of the mountains", the Triqui basketball team, comprised of 12 to 13 year old boys, won an international basketball tournament in Argentina in 2013. And after that...
...the young Triqui players traveled to Los Angeles, as they set out to embark on a series of exhibition basketball games across the United States. Playing barefoot and rabbit quick, the Triqui basketball players quickly became a sensation, drawing large crowds and winning over fans with their heart and tenacity. They even scrimmaged against players from the San Antonio Spurs, and impressed superstar, Tim Duncan, with their ability.
The Triqui-est of Facts
The players are from the Triqui indigenous community, which is located in the mountains of Oaxaca, Mexico.
The community is known for its traditional music and dance, as well as its love of basketball.
In Oaxaca they play barefoot, which they claim gives them a better grip on the court.
Their style of basketball is characterized by its speed, agility, discipline and teamwork.
Since 2013 they have continued to compete in international basketball tournaments and have enjoyed much success.
Below is a sampling of the stories chronicling the Triqui players inspirational journey:
Photo Credits: All photos can be found on the indigenous-maya Tumblr. (Link posted above)