By Alex Madrid / info@eurohoops.net
After eight months on the sidelines due to a torn ACL injury, Real Madrid guard and reigning EuroLeague MVP Sergio Llull resumed action last night (26/4) in a key game of his team vs. Panathinaikos for the EuroLeague playoffs.
As the Spanish star admitted, his return to courts was a rather emotional experience from all aspects.
“It has been a very exciting day for me, I couldn’t wait for the match to begin,” Llull said after the game. “The reception, the introduction and when I jumped on the court, it was spectacular. I’ve got goosebumps, it’s been a beautiful moment that I’ll always remember. I am very grateful to the supporters that came to a rare hour for us to fill the Palacio, to help the team and show their affection”.
“I was nervous. I was eight and a half months without playing. There was a lot of expectation with the return and I wanted to do well. Before I started playing, I had that feeling of the special matches. In the end, I was able to focus on helping the team win and put that 2-1,” Llull added.
Llull contributed to the victory of Real Madrid for the 2-1 in the series with some big-time shooting down the stretch and two 3-pointers in a row. His reactions after these buckets were more than characteristic of the intense way he usually celebrates. For an extra reason this time.
“It was a bit of accumulated anger and I was also happy because at the beginning of the game I couldn’t make the shots. When you make two three-pointers in a row in an important moment and you see that the Palacio goes crazy, it’s a moment of joy.”
While Llull was training with the team for weeks, he postponed his return until he felt 100% ready to step on the courts once more. He and Real picked this match for his return and it was proven to be the right choice.
“From the first day I got injured, they put it in my head that it would take a long time. I mentalized, I have not been in a hurry. It is true that these last weeks I was already doing a little long. It coincided that the game was at home, it was a special one, an important match. I think it was a good decision and we won, so I’m happy. ”
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