By Alex Madrid / amadrid@eurohoops.net
Welcome to the Basketball Champions League Final Four. Welcome to the Bilbao show… and of course, welcome to Miribilla.
Miribilla is the way we know the Bilbao Arena. And here is where the Final Four is being held in a neutral gym for the first time.
But, to tell you the truth, all the teams are going to feel like they are playing at home. The fans that traveled with them are incredible, especially Hapoel Holon. Check this crazy crowd!
Anyway, this is Alex Madrid and I invite you to follow the Final Four with Eurohoops and in particular, through this daily blog.
Tenerife got the 78-71 win at the end thanks to the eternal Marcelinho Huertas. The team reached the BCL final for the third time, more than anyone else, and on Sunday will have the opportunity to lift its second trophy.
However, not only did Holon’s fans put up a show, but in total more than 8,000 fans are present in the gym at the end of the first game. That’s a huge number, considering the fact that this is the first-ever BCL Final Four in a “neutral” city.
The players are aware of the efforts of their fans, as Bruno Fitipaldo told Eurohoops: “Many people came from Tenerife and we know how difficult is to come from there. We are very happy and grateful for the support we have received all year long everywhere we played. So we hope to give them a great joy on Sunday”.
But there were still many people to arrive to Miribilla. Once the first semifinal ended, a red tide began to flood the stands. As if they were envious of the Hapoel Holon fans, the Manresa ones began to cheer in an incredible way. There was still almost an hour left for their game!
But I can’t forget the Germans. Less numerous, but accompanied by drums that made them loud.
However, the night belonged to Manresa who qualified for the final, getting the 63-55 win.
And naturally, the players celebrated together with their fans.
Manresa supporters left the arena with a smile on their faces while the Germans were still in the stands. They weren’t sad -at least what you would consider sad after losing a semifinal- but satisfied with the effort of their heroes.
Suddenly, the applause started. Ludwigsburg’s Jordan Hulls began to climb the stairs to meet his family while he was receiving the encouragement and support. It proved, once again, that the BCL Final Four is a special place for the fans.
Photo credit: BCL