By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
At 18:15 local hour, the plane carrying the newly crowned world champion Spanish national team landed in Madrid. Captain Rudy Fernandez appeared out of the door carrying the trophy, accompanied by coach Sergio Scariolo and Federation president, and former world champion as a player in 2006, Jorge Garbajosa.
While people had already begun gathering at the Plaza de Colon, the team headed to the Palace of Zarzuela to meet King Felipe the IV. Rudy Fernandez hung the gold medal on the king’s neck.
In the meantime, the crowd in the Plaza de Colon was getting larger and larger.
? Así luce Colón ? La #SelMAS ?? también tiene a la MEJOR AFICIÓN del mundo ❤️
? IMPRESIONANTE ?#LaFamiliaEsOro #SomosEquipo pic.twitter.com/xsJvp5tZ5O
— Baloncesto España (@BaloncestoESP) September 16, 2019
The players boarded the bus for the celebratory parade to begin. Marc Gasol definitely looked like he was having quite the fun. After all, he has now been accustomed to this kind of championship parades.
“In Toronto, it was six hours of partying. We are going step by step. I am more of a bar [guy] than of dancing,” Gasol said. One “cerveza” for the senor, please.
Take it easy! (Or don't ?)#FIBAWCpic.twitter.com/8bnxMmbad1
— Eurohoops.net (@Eurohoopsnet) September 16, 2019
Amidst all the celebration, Sergio Llull didn’t forget the players that played in the qualifying Windows but didn’t make the World Cup squad. “Thanks to all of them that have been in the Windows. A piece of the medal is yours,” said the Real Madrid star at the stage that was the center of the partying. Tens of thousands of people were cheering for him and his teammates.
“Anything can happen with this team. In the end… world champions,” Victor Claver said.