By Alex Madrid / amadrid@eurohoops.net
Did you get any sleep? After a day of so many emotions, it was difficult for me. But there is no time to lose, Saturday morning is also Final Four time in Bilbao. To be more specific, two press conferences awaited us before the Awards Ceremony.
First of all, we the press conference of the final… the final that Chima Moneke knew that BAXI Manresa and Lenovo Tenerife will play: “I said it in February that we were going to play Tenerife in the final. I said it, I knew it and I’m just happy that it could happen”. Do you want to know your future or the winning lottery number? Maybe you should ask Moneke.
As a Spanish journalist, I must admit that a final between two Spanish teams in a Spanish city is something incredible. But no one feels more at home than Txus Vidorreta. Well, more or less: “I play at home, but I also play away”, he said, referring to the more than 2,000 Manresa fans that will attend the final. “When I come to Bilbao, we are the visiting team so I’m used to it. There will be a great atmosphere“.
Anyway, it is a huge achievement for Spanish basketball the first time that two teams from the same country have reached the BCL final, Tenerife became the first team to reach the final for the third time, Manresa will play for the title in just its second season… Call it Spanish dominance.
We also saw this dominance in the awards. In a beautiful setting, with live classical music, Moneke became the MVP of the season. He was the star of an event where the best were recognized. By the way, he left a message for the ACB MVP (or a hint to Dzanan Musa, the favorite to win it): “This a team win. We made the playoffs and I could win this MVP trophy. In another league if you don’t make the playoffs…“. Wow, that’s a statement.
By the way, Moneke was the only player I didn’t see before the ceremony. The rest of his teammates, playing for a European title tomorrow, managed to relax by playing air field hockey and billiards. Crazy, isn’t it? I’d be biting my nails for hours.
Of course, the rest of us could have relaxed at the hotel, as they did. However, with the sunny day in Bilbao, the two best options were having a “kalimotxo” (for those of age) and going to the Fan Zone. I really mean it. It is not usual this weather in the north of Spain, but I can assure you that everyone took advantage of it, including the journalists. It was a great day for networking and to have some time to rest before the big battle.
Oh! One last thing. Today we were lucky enough to meet the boss of all of this, Patrick Comninos. The BCL CEO took an hour to answer all our curiosities and doubts about the competition and its future. I left it for last, but perhaps it was the highlight of the day. You know, “last but not least”…