CB Santurtzi is from LEB Plata

No one could have imagined at the beginning of the season the authentic feat that CB Santurtzi has achieved.

CB Santurtzi is from LEB Plata

No one could have imagined at the beginning of the season the authentic feat that CB Santurtzi has achieved. The purple team, with a much more austere budget than the main rivals in the league, were able to proclaim themselves champions of their EBA League group. Therefore, the campaign was already a success and could even be called historic. Regardless of what happened in the promotion play-offs that are held during these days.

CB Santurtzi was a fish sailing among sharks in this play-off. In their group of four, they were anchored together with teams with recent experience in LEB Plata, which have players who have played for most of their career in higher leagues and much broader economic possibilities than those of the purple ones. That is why the santurtziarras were not in any pool.

However, the team spent a month slowly preparing this final phase, polishing every detail, so "we trust to death in our chances of promotion," the coach, Íñigo Núñez, told EL CORREO. Under that band of underdogs, but with blind faith in their chances of achieving a milestone within the reach of few, they traveled to Huelva to play this play-off.

His adventure began last Thursday against Alcobendas and the first surprise arrived. CB Santurtzi beat the locals from Madrid by a tight 67-71, thanks to a great third quarter where they achieved a seven-point advantage. The next day, the challenge was even greater. The faces had to be seen against an almighty L'Hospitalet, who in their first match had swept the locals 74-54.

Nor did the Santurtziarras' legs tremble, as they achieved a hard-fought and heroic victory in extra time against a Catalan team that started as favorites (78-74). The purple squad was thus assured of second place, although Huelva's defeat against Alcobendas that same day made them leaders directly, which meant direct promotion. It was time to be attentive to what happened two and a half hours later.

Fortunately, what had to happen happened. Alcobendas beat Huelva, which made CB Santurtzi's dream come true. In the absence of playing the last day of this play-off today, the group from the Left Bank has already certified its promotion to LEB Plata. A huge award for teamwork, perseverance and regularity, which is a new example of how unpredictable sport is.


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