Redaccion
The mayor thanks the team for the victory, with which they have achieved that «Bilbao is written in golden letters in the history of European basketball»
A ‘black’ wave welcomed the Surne Bilbao Basket at Bilbao City Hall this Friday, after conquering the FIBA Europe Cup, their first professional title, and also continental, in their history, this past Wednesday in the final against Paok Thessaloniki in the Greek city.
The Surne Bilbao Basket, celebrating its 25th anniversary, went to the Paok Sports Arena in Thessaloniki with a 7-point cushion from the first leg and clinched the title, despite losing 84-82, cheered on by 150 Bilbao fans who traveled to Thessaloniki, facing thousands of Greek supporters who pushed their players until the end.
The players and technical and managerial team of the Surne Bilbao Basket arrived at the Bilbao City Hall at six in the afternoon, where hundreds of fans had already gathered. On the steps, they were welcomed by the mayor, Juan María Aburto, to whom the Bilbao Basket coach, Jaume Ponsarnau, gave a team scarf and offered him the FIBA cup.
After greeting the municipal spokespersons in the town hall lobby and taking a photo with the municipal corporation, they were honored with an aurresku of honor in the Arab Hall, where the mayor addressed them, congratulating the team because «we are champions».
Remembering that four months ago the Surne Bilbao Basket was named ‘Ambassador of Bilbao’, Aburto thanked them for carrying «the values and spirit of this city to all the courts with great pride» during this time. «And last Wednesday, you have made Bilbao be written in golden letters in the history of European basketball. Thank you, ambassadors of Bilbao,» he emphasized.
He also had a thank you for «everyone who has been with you in these 25 years, from fans and followers to sponsors and collaborators, public institutions and private companies.»
Aburto also made a special mention of Surne, «who has joined their name with that of Bilbao Basket to make this great triumph possible.»
«We have always been there from the City Hall, from the beginning, and we will continue to have you by our side for whatever comes, for the good and the bad moments,» Aburto said.
He also assured the players that «Bilbao loves you, just look at them and hear them out there. You knew it well, and now you return with affection, joy, and victories the devotion that the Bilbao fans, the ‘black tide,’ the clubs that make the Bilbao Arena roar, feel for you.»
Aburto stated, «The dream has come true, we had the right to dream, but we had the right to win.» «Today we celebrate this great title in this Arab Hall of the City Hall and going out to the balcony where the greatest champions come out. We are European champions,» he emphasized.
The mayor added, «The popular outcry and the great basketball fan base in Bilbao pushed to achieve a top-level basketball team representing our city in the elite of Spanish and European basketball.» «25 years of joys, also some sorrows, but you have always believed in the project, and we have reached the top with this brilliant Cup,» he celebrated.
Finally, he highlighted the work of the board of directors who are leading the club extraordinarily. «Playing this final, with a professional team linked to Bilbao, is a great sports reference to imitate for our boys and girls,» he affirmed, reiterating that, «for all that has been lived and achieved, this mayor, this corporation, and this city of Bilbao are very proud of you, of what you do, and how you represent us worldwide.»
The club’s president, Isabel Iturbe, also spoke, recalling that four years ago they had «the great responsibility» of being named ambassadors of this city, acknowledging that they had not «visualized» the moment they are experiencing now and expressing her desire to «enjoy and be moved by this triumph with my people and with the people waiting for us outside.»
The coach of the Surne Bilbao Basket, Jaume Ponsarnau, expressed his gratitude to «all the people» who made this triumph possible, «to all these people outside who made this dream come true.»
He directed his thanks to the players who have done an impressive job, who have been a pack of wolves, super coordinated, giving it their all every time, addressing the players and extending the thanks to the technical and managerial team of the club.
«We have managed to revive players who seemed unable to reach the matches, we have prepared the matches in the best way with a lot of work, and together we have achieved something incredible,» he said emotionally.
Finally, the captain of the ‘men in black,’ Xavi Rabaseda, said that he had «the luck to win some other titles,» but the one achieved with the Bilbao Basket «will always hold a special place in my heart.» «As captain, it was the first one I lifted, and it is also the first one of Bilbao Basket, so let’s enjoy it as it is hard-earned,» he encouraged.
After these interventions, the players of the Surne Bilbao Basket went out to the main balcony of the City Hall to offer the Cup that accredits them as European champions to the hundreds of fans gathered in front of the council and on the town hall bridge.
The coach of the ‘men in black’ addressed the fans to assure them that the players feel «very proud» to have won the title, «but above all to share it» with the fans. «You have always been there, in good times and bad, and we are thrilled to have all of you here,» he added.
BY BUS TO THE DIPUTACIÓN
Shortly after seven in the evening, the players and the technical and managerial team of the Surne Bilbao Basket headed in an open-top bus from the City Hall to the Provincial Council of Bizkaia, on a route accompanied by hundreds of fans.
At the Provincial Council, they were received by the General Deputy of Bizkaia, Elixabete Etxanobe, mayors of Biscay, and members of the Juntas Generales and spokespersons of the parliamentary groups.
