With little time to fully grasp their achievement, Surne Bilbao fans gathered on the steps of the City Hall to honor the kings of Europe. Following the comeback against PAOK in the FIBA Europe Cup final, which ignited Miribilla, the 'men in black' shared their second continental title with their supporters.
The club's followers displayed unwavering faith against their Greek rivals, and the reward was to kiss the trophy. For this reason, the players and coaching staff wanted to give back all the support they had received. And today was the day.
Thus, under an unexpected sun, given the rain during the final, the open-top truck of Surne Bilbao arrived at the City Hall of the Biscayan capital. It was the first stop of their celebratory parade, as a second continental title certainly deserved multiple stops. And there, on the splendid steps of the municipal building, the mayor, Amaia Arregi, was waiting.
“"You are an example of teamwork, effort, and ambition. Of believing even when it seems impossible, of never giving up. You have shown that one plus one is not two, nor is it seven. Because yesterday it was 15."
The mayor, in front of about 2,000 fans, wore a wide smile and an immeasurable desire to touch the trophy that once again places her city at the pinnacle of continental basketball. The club president and the team's coach offered it to her, but she lifted it alongside Tryggvi Hlinason, with his 2.15 meters as captain.
The champions' cup gleamed in the mayor's hands, but the attention of those present naturally turned to the players. To the squad that shattered all statistics and was crowned champion. They appeared almost entirely with the look of a long, albeit enjoyable, night. Protected by sunglasses and caps, and even by scarves that offered more shade than warmth. But it didn't matter, because they had won. So anything went.
After an aurresku, Mayor Arregi took the floor to say inside the City Hall what everyone outside was thinking. And since Surne seems to have no ceiling, the mayor warned them that “there are no two without three, so we will see each other here again next year.”
“"Thank you for being this way, for helping us be so competitive. Because this group is fantastic and inspiring, but you have also shown us the way. Gora Bilbo! Gora Bizkaia!"
However, Surne Bilbao is Surne Bilbao thanks to its fans. To that 'black tide' that, as the coach explains, is there “through thick and thin.” Therefore, the celebration was not complete until it was shared with them. So the players stepped out onto the balcony, to meet the sun again, and delirium erupted at their feet. Melwin Pantzar, Harald Frey, and Margiris Normantas were the most acclaimed, though undoubtedly the star was the coach. After all, the 2,000 people who were at the City Hall are all “children of the team's coach.” The coach concluded before heading to the Palacio Foral, the next stop of the black tide's celebration.
