Such day as today in 2015, Real Madrid ended a journey through the desert that had lasted 20 years. He reigned again on the continent after overcoming Olympiacos in the Euroleague final. It was played precisely at the Wizink Center, now Movistar Arena, and the whites won by 78-59.
Until then, The last Euroleague of Madrid dated 1995also won the Olympiacos. Conquered her in Zaragoza with Arvydas Sabonis havoc on the track and Zeljko Obradovic teaching from the bench. Since then, The Madrid players accumulate numerous disappointments that moved them away from the European aristocracysetbacks to the ULEB, frustrated assaults on the throne, which often remained far and other times to a span.
Chapu Nocioni and Pablo Laso hugged after the final.
In the 20 years of that success, Madrid reached only five Final Four. What now seems everyday – until this season's click had three followed and 10 of 14 possible – was then extraordinary. Lost in semifinals in 1996 and 2011 and stroked the title in 2013 and 2014already with Pablo Laso at the forefront of that golden age of Real Madrid despite succumbing in final paths before Olympiacos and after an extension Maccabi, respectively. The 2015 appointment, at home, was underlined, in bold and cursive on the calendar.
The MVP Nocioni brings what was missing
The previous summer, the whites had incorporated a 35 -year fudge but with intact hunger. He confirmed it in the big appointment. The Argentine eaves It would end up being the MVP. He added 12 points and six rebounds in the triumph in the semifinal against Fenerbahce (96-87) and 12 other points and seven rebounds in the final. There a Jaycee Carroll Letal (16 with 4/5 in triples) How well the award was taken. Great weekend also of Sergio Rodríguez, Sergio Llull …
Jaycee Carroll launches a triple in the final against Olympiacos.
They were also Rudy Fernández, Gustavo Ayón, Kc Rivers… would be for quality … but There was bad milk, that “rusticity” of which Nocioni spoke When asked what he could contribute to what was already a seedling. “During my career I was better to be a squire. I was always a complement to my teams”the Argentine eave recognized recalling that success of 2015 that, in the fall of his career, almost did not expect: “I thought that The opportunities to leave European champion were ending, that it was not going to happen and that it was going to be something that would be pending. That's why I enjoyed it a lot, because it arrived when I was almost over “.
The pressure and desire for the team to win
The urgencies were shared. His and those of a needy Madrid to return to the top of Europe, to lift the novena for basketball. “The pressure was felt and those desires for winning. And even more after what had happened the previous years, in which they reached the final Four and the result was not the best. We knew how to regroup the team after losing twice and the third to win it. That is notable for the boys who were in the past defeats, “explains Nocioni.
Rudy Fernández fights for a ball with Vassilis Spanoulis.
May 17, 2015, Felipe ReyesCaptain Blanco, he received from King Felipe VI the Euroleague champion trophy and raised it to the sky of the capital ending with 20 years of hardships and frustrations. Real Madrid sat down on the European throne.