The Gimnasia y Esgrima basketball section is part of the Argentine sports club Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata. The professional senior team currently competes in La Liga Argentina de Básquet (former "Torneo Nacional de Ascenso"), the second division of Argentine basketball league system.

Gimnasia y Esgrima plays its home venues at Polideportivo Víctor Nethol, a multi-purpose stadium with capacity of 3,000.

History

The first team of the club, 1924

Basketball was practiced for the first time at the club in the 1920s. In 1924 the institution built a stadium on the corner of 60 and 118 streets. Since that time, it would become one of the major sports in the club.

In December 1970, Gimnasia y Esgrima went to a tour on Europe. The team participated in the "Torneo de Navidad" (Christmas Tournament) organised by Spanish club Real Madrid. Gimnasia finished 3rd (of 4) after beating Puerto Rico national team 87–82 and lost to Real Madrid (title holder) 83–64 and Joventut Badalona. Coached by Miguel Angel Ripullone, touring players were: Marcelo Arnal, Eduardo "Tato" Bava, Orlando "Chungo" Butta, Ernesto Gehrmann, Santos Melluso, Adolfo "Gurí" Perazzo, Carlos Ratier, Carlos "Gallego" González, Jorge Becerra, Gustavo Chazarreta, Carlos Pellandini. Gimnasia y Esgrima also played Spanish team Santander and Italian side Asti.

The 1979 team that won the Campeonato Argentino, considered by some journalist as GELP's best team ever

The basketball team peaked during the 1978 and 1979 campaigns, when it won two Metropolitano championships. In both cases, team prevailed over favorite Obras Sanitarias, Argentina's powerhouse at the time. The team included players such as "Gallego" González, "Finito" Gehrmann, Peinado, as well as some Americans: Michael Jackson, Lawrence Jackson Jr., and the team leader and star, point-guard Clarence Edgar Metcalfe, chosen as the league MVP in 1979. The twice-champions were coached by Rolando Sfeir.

After the 1993–94 season, Gimnasia promoted to Torneo Nacional de Ascenso (TNA), the second division. In the following season, the team finished 6th (of 16). At the end of 1996–97, Gimnasia played a relegation series against Atlético Echagüe of Paraná, Entre Ríos, finally winning the series and remaining in the division. In 1999–2000 and being coached by Adrián Gómez, GELP reached the finals v Belgrano (Tucumán), losing 3–2. Belgrano promoted to LNB, the first division. Nevertheless, the following season Gimnasia achieved promotion to Primera after beating Regatas Corrientes 3–1 in the final series. Some notable players were Fabián Horvath, Javier Bulfoni, Walter Storani, Roberto López, Boubacar Aw, and Pop Thorton.

Gimnasia was also runner-up in the 2003–04 Liga Nacional de Básquetbol's Primera División tournament, when it was defeated by Boca Juniors 4–2 in the final series.

In the following season, the team was relegated to the TNA (Second Division) after president Juan José Muñoz decreased substantially the basketball budget, thereby causing the loss of its principal players.

Le Gimnasia y Esgrima (littéralement Gymnastique et Escrime) est un club de basket-ball de la ville de Comodoro Rivadavia, en Argentine. Le club a été fondé en 1914 et évolue actuellement dans la Liga Nacional de Básquetbol (LNB), le plus haut niveau du basket-ball argentin.

Le Gimnasia y Esgrima a remporté deux titres de champion d'Argentine en 1996 et 2006. Il a également remporté la Liga Sudamericana en 2000.

Le club dispute ses matchs à domicile au Polideportivo Isidoro Casanova, qui peut accueillir jusqu'à 5 000 spectateurs.

Les couleurs du club sont le vert et le blanc.

Le Gimnasia y Esgrima est l'un des clubs les plus populaires d'Argentine et dispose d'une importante base de supporters.