GironaWhen Marc Gasol began to lead the Girona Basketball project, he imagined an ambitious roadmap that would end the team in the Endesa League, but the strategy designed was in no hurry and the NBA champion displayed the medium or long term goal. First it was necessary to consolidate the club socially and to mature the sports proposal by taking steps forward. The reality has exceeded the most optimistic forecasts and the Girona team will play next season in the ACB. The victory against Movistar Estudiantes was the final feat of a season that has gone from less to more (60-66).
Catalan basketball will have four representatives in the highest category. Fourteen years after the disappearance of Akasvayu Girona, Bàsquet Girona achieved a major success against the big favorite in the promotion. The project bears the stamp of an authentic sportsman who years ago imagined a club in which the social aspect had the same importance as the sports one. The message was clear from the first minute. “We want to win, but there are social projects that transcend more,” announced Gasol, who wanted to return to Girona everything the city had given him. “Sport is a tool to educate and demonstrate the values that this club has, which are different. For me, winning is just as important as winning a good image. We try not to consume disposable plastics, both we and the fans. We want to be a reference. We need vehicles, but we want them to be electric. We want to move in a sustainable way, we don’t want to leave a very big carbon footprint. Sometimes we have to travel by plane or bus, but we want to make up for it by being close to neutral. We want to improve the installation. In addition, we emphasize social integration, either with the wheelchair basketball team or with actions with other institutions. We are growing a lot and living things with a lot of intensity, but the process is being very enriching. We put a lot of effort into getting people to live an experience beyond the party and adopt good habits, ”he told ARA.
Heroism in Fontajau
After injuring himself on Saturday, Gasol made an epic effort to play the decisive game. The Catalan pivot was the starter to reassure some Girona fans who turned Fontajau into an ACB pavilion. The local hero gave it his all on the floor and finished with 11 points and 8 rebounds. “It simply came to our notice then. We have shown great feeling. The city of Girona and the whole province have supported us and that is sport, feeling and passion “, he summed up.
“To keep me off the track I should have been unable to walk. I saved the little energy I had in my knee to close the game “, added the pivot. Marc will have to decide if at 37 he is still active. “The priority is to enjoy the moment and we will talk about it next season,” he said. His brother Pau, the club’s vice-president, did not miss the party.
Máximo Fjellerup (19 points) was the top scorer of the team coached by Jordi Sargatal, who had to suffer until the end. “I am just happy to be part of this project. The audience atmosphere moves to the track and this is noticeable. I think the celebration will have to last a handful of days, “said the Argentine. The Girona team had a 14-point lead during a third quarter that sparked the enthusiasm of local fans. When the situation was worse, the Movistar Estudiantes got nervous and started a daring comeback, but it was not in time.
“We are all very involved in the project, but being here makes it special. The end of the season has been impressive,” said Albert Sabbath, who has not yet decided what he will do next season. “We have suffered, but Marc Gasol gives us a lot of confidence. He adds both from the court and from the bench,” admitted Jaume Sorolla from Tortosa.
