By MARIO AGUIRRE | STAFF WRITER
EDINBURG — Vince Olivarez was a freshman last year when he was asked about his interest in joining the varsity team at Edinburg Vela.
At the time, the SaberCats needed size in the front court, and the 6-foot-3 post fit the bill.
Coach Lalo Rios was reluctant to make any promises, though. His ever-evolving lineups could see players in a starting role one day or buried on the bench the next. His assignment, however, was clear.
“I just had to come in, get rebounds, play defense,” Olivarez said. “If they give me a shot, take it.”
To play for Edinburg Vela the past two years has meant coming to accept a role outside its ‘Big 3’ of Ryan Garza, Hector Ruiz and Alec De La Cruz. At times, that has meant learning a new position to accommodate the core unit like Mike Garcia has, or being content with fluctuating minutes like Alex Cisneros. That the SaberCats have been able to find that caliber of athlete the past two years, they believe, is the reason why they’re on the verge of their second straight Sweet 16 appearance.
“We all think about it as the bigger picture,” Olivarez said. “We see it as a sacrifice for the team. If I sit out a couple more minutes for us to get the win, I’ll take that for the team, and so would anyone else.”
Olivarez has come to embody the team-first mentality surrounding the top-ranked SaberCats (33-2), who make their return to the regional quarterfinals today against Alamo Heights (23-9).
They did it with Garza, an All-Valley first-team selection in 2015, and Ruiz, a second-team pick, leading the backcourt, along with De La Cruz on the wing. They entered the year, though, with a pressing need in the front court, and that’s where they turned to Olivarez, a sophomore, to help fill that gap.
He’s one of seven additions that have found their niche on the District 31-5A-winning squad, whether in the starting unit or coming off the bench.
“Not everybody can be the great one, and we’re fortunate these guys have bought into their roles, and they’ve accepted it,” Rios said. “Not only that, but they’ve gotten better in their roles.”
Garcia flourished after embracing a new assignment. Originally projected as a shooting guard, the senior was asked to bulk up during the offseason to utilize his 6-foot-2 frame in the post. It gave Garcia his best chance of moving up from the third group.
The SaberCats continued playing the run-and-gun style of game that has come to define the program the past couple of seasons. Now, Garcia starts alongside their “Big 3.”
“I knew if I had the opportunity, I needed to take advantage of it. I needed to change. I needed to get used to playing with these guys,” Garcia said. “Personally, I feel that as long as I contribute and do my part, I’m fine.
“I mean, we’re winning, and that’s the most important thing.”
Cisneros is among those who have enhanced their role this year. He started the season off the bench, and was inserted into the starting lineup at the start of district, where the SaberCats finished 12-0.
As one of the quicker players on the team, Cisneros was asked to provide energy plays, whether hauling rebounds or pestering the opposition.
“We just have to come in and hustle and grind,” Olivarez said. “We have to get people in foul trouble, take charges, dive on the floor.
“Yeah, we have those three guys, and they’re great, but we’re more of a team. They get the work done. They’ve been working forever. But we have a team, and that’s the reason we’re successful.”