The history of basketball in Palma It cannot be understood without names that are already part of the past, although some of them resist – the case of the dean, Hispania. One of the ones that had the most travel and impact closed 33 years ago, on February 5, 1993, although it maintained an activity far from its historical setting, in the facilities of today’s Nou Levante, and focused on training categories.
The Board of Trustees was close to promotion to the ACB League (they lost it to Murcia, Caja San Fernando, Llíria or Cáceres) and ended up in liquidation, sunk by terrible management and with their disappearance opening a long impasse in Son Moix until the arrival of Palma Aqua Mágica, Bahía San Agustín or Palmer Basket, the latter two currently in the First FEB, equivalent to that First Division that brought together numerous illustrious players.
An emblem of that nationally known basketball club, which was born and grew up around the figure of Father Enric Ventura (died in 1981), founder of the entity in 1941, and which gives its name to the street that connects Avenidas, in front of the emblematic track that it occupied, with the Nou Levante. It is the only memory that remains there of what was a temple of Palma and Mallorcan basketball.
The beginnings
The history of the Patronat Obrer dates back to 1907 and with the help of the Sant Josep company and the Jesuit Guillem Vives, who laid the foundations of this social and sports entity. At the beginning of the last century, the economic and educational need was very notable among the working population of Mallorca and this entity grew around this work, which made it known throughout the city and, even today, it continues to carry out a commendable activity.
In 1945 and 1949 the plots were acquired and The spectacular track was inaugurated in 1952 -until then they played on Ramón Llull Street-, it witnessed the growth of several generations of players and coaches, in addition to hosting many more parents and fans who lived emotional and epic days on a field of the past, with that atmosphere of yesteryear that made it special.
The change
In 1988, the history of the Board of Trustees changedcreating a new club with the same name, reorganizing the different levels of the different categories, while the senior team fought in the First Division for promotion to the ACB League, which lasted several seasons until its end, in the 1992-93 season. By then, he was already playing his games at the Palau d’Esports in Son Moix, since the historic premises and the court of the Patronato Social de Sant Josep on Avenida Gabriel Alomar and Villalonga They moved at that time to the Levante Industrial Estate -where they are still active today-.
What was the Mecca of basketball in Palma gave way to a spectacular shopping center (Avenidas Center) that failed in its betbeing acquired in 1997 by the Palma City Council, which since then has owned different municipal, citizen service and Local Police facilities and offices there. But many nostalgic people who pass by there continue to remember what was the social and sporting lung of Palma, the home of the Board of Trustees for decades. A temple of the sport of basket ball.
