El Bisbal closed out a remarkable season with a 79-85 loss to Sant Antoni on the final day of the Liga EBA campaign, a result that carried little weight for the Empordà side but underscored the resilience of a team that exceeded expectations throughout the year. The match, played at the Pavelló Municipal d’Eivissa on April 20, 2024, saw Sant Antoni seize early control in a bid to overtake CB Castelló for the top spot in Group East, while El Bisbal had already secured its position and playoff berth weeks earlier.
From the opening tip, Sant Antoni came out firing, driven by the knowledge that a win combined with a Castelló loss in Llíria could propel them to first place. The Ibiza hosts led by as many as eight points in the first quarter, shooting 50% from the field and forcing El Bisbal into early foul trouble. Despite the deficit, the visitors remained composed, methodically working the ball inside and exploiting mismatches in the post.
El Bisbal’s offense found its rhythm in the second period, cutting the halftime gap to just four points after a 12-2 run fueled by sharp perimeter shooting and aggressive rebounding. Guard Marc Roca, a consistent scorer all season, finished with 18 points and five assists, while forward Pol López contributed a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, showcasing the versatility that made him a key cog in the team’s success.
Sant Antoni, however, answered with a barrage of three-pointers in the third quarter, hitting 5 of 8 attempts from beyond the arc to stretch their lead to 15 points. The home team’s bench provided crucial energy, with veteran guard Jordi Serra adding 12 points off the pine, including two timely triples that halted any Bisbal momentum.
The final quarter saw El Bisbal mount a late charge, trimming the deficit to six points with under two minutes remaining after a steal and fast-break dunk by López. But Sant Antoni held firm at the free-throw line, sinking 9 of 10 attempts in the closing minutes to seal the victory. The result left Sant Antoni momentarily atop the standings, though Castelló’s concurrent win in Llíria ultimately secured them the top seed.
For El Bisbal, the outcome was inconsequential in the grand scheme. Having clinched third place in Group East with a 19-11 record, the team had already locked home-court advantage for the first round of the playoffs, where they will face sixth-place CB L’Hospitalet. The season marked a significant leap forward for the club, which had finished just above the relegation zone the previous year.
Head coach Carles Torrens praised his squad’s growth, noting improvements in defensive consistency and bench production. “We started the year with questions about depth and experience,” Torrens said in a postgame interview with the Spanish Basketball Federation. “To finish with a winning record, earn a playoff spot, and push teams like Castelló and Sant Antoni all season — that’s a testament to the players’ commitment.”
The playoff quarterfinals are set to begin on April 27, with El Bisbal hosting L’Hospitalet in Game 1 at the Pavelló Municipal de Bisbal d’Empordà. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Local time (16:00 UTC). The series will follow a best-of-three format, with the higher seed holding home-court advantage for Games 1 and potentially 3.
As the team turns its focus to the postseason, the final regular-season game serves as a bookend to a season defined by progress. While the loss in Ibiza may fade from memory, the foundation laid — through player development, tactical discipline, and community engagement — positions El Bisbal to build on this success in the years ahead.
Fans can follow live updates and postgame analysis through the club’s official channels and the Liga EBA website. The next checkpoint is Game 1 of the playoffs on April 27, a chance for El Bisbal to begin writing the next chapter of its rising story.
What did this season indicate for El Bisbal’s long-term trajectory? How might the playoff experience shape the roster for next year? These are questions that will linger as the team prepares to defend its home floor in the quest for advancement.
