By Stefan Djordjevic/ sdjordjevic@eurohoops.net
Hereda San Pablo Burgos, a team that started competing professionally in 2015, won the Basketball Champions League title last season in their debut in European competition, and have now repeated the success with the second straight.
The Spaniards came out on top against Pinar Karsiyaka with 64-59 on the scoreboard in 2020-21 Final, in order to make history as they became the first club to win two (straight) titles in the Basketball Champions League. In the meantime, they also won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup.
“It’s an amazing day, we know that we have amazing players, amazing talents, but this season is unbelievable”, said coach Joan Penarroya after the game.
It was a very close contest between the two teams chasing the dream and the victor got decided down the stretch. With 35 seconds remaining on the clock, Alex Renfroe took the responsibility and drove to the basket, scoring over Amath M’Baye and giving his team a 62-59 lead.
Defense was extraordinary from both teams throughout all forty minutes and it was only fitting that Burgos sealed the deal thanks to great hustle during Karsiyaka’s efforts to tie the game, forcing a traveling turnover in the paint after an offensive rebound. Vitor Benite set the final score from the free-throw line.
The Final 8 MVP Benite finished with 15 points including a crucial go-ahead three-pointer in crunch time followed by Renfore with 14 points, six rebounds, four assists. Jasiel Rivero added nine points and five rebounds.
Dejan Kravic made history not only because he finished the night with eight points and eight rebounds, but also because he became the first-ever player who won the BCL title three times, two with Burgos and one Virtus Bologna.
For Karsiyaka, M’Baye logged 17 points and eight boards while Raymar Morgan scored 13 and Metecan Birsen 10 points.
“We simply couldn’t make a shot, especially me, but I don’t want to use any excuses”. said Morgan in the post-game press conference and added: “Just because we lost this battle, it’s not the end of the season, we will keep fighting in the Turkish league”.
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League