By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Euroleague CEO Jordi Bertomeu met the Spanish press on the occasion of the start of the new Euroleague season and he had some interesting things to say about ACB and FIBA.
According to Bertomeu the Spanish league has to change its rule about the financial guarantees a team must provide in order to be promoted from the second division: “It is an outdated rule. This is not the current situation. The ACB should adjuste its rules to reality. Obviously, the scenario is different”. Because of this rule, many teams which earn on the court the right to play in the top division decide not to do so, making ACB almost a closed league. “The Euroleague has not been and never will be, a closed league”, added Bertomeu.
As for the new FIBA national teams calendar, he expessed again his oposition: “The clubs do not want their season to have breaks. FIBA is tightening the rope, but at some point we have to sit down and talk. Who is interested in a Spain-San Marino in February? Ideally, the national team competitions will take place in July. Players will be in form, coming from their respective leagues and will have the entire month of August to rest. We are willing to delay the start of the Euroleague”.