Only one will go up to the ACB. Students and Marc Gasol’s Girona, who ended up injured during the semifinals, will face each other this Sunday (6:45 p.m., Movistar Deportes) for promotion to the first category of Spanish basketball, with Granada already classified after being first during the regular phase of LEB Gold.
Students beat Palencia with great authority (89-62) in the first of the semifinals. The people from Madrid, led by Javier Beirán, a true world champion (10 points, 7 rebounds), never gave the Castilian a chance, who despite the defeat, ended up being applauded by their fans once the match was over. About 300 fans traveled to Gerona on behalf of Estudiantes to see the Final Four for promotion.
Girona did not fail either and won against Lleida (68-77). The Girona team, very successful from the triple, did not need Marc Gasol’s best scoring version to get the game ahead in the first half. The center, however, retired injured in the third quarter after a knee injury. His participation in the final is in doubt, although he returned to the bench soon after and made calm gestures towards his teammates when they became concerned about his condition. The loss of the pivot left his teammates in shock for a few minutes, but finally they were able to close the game.
Girona was in relegation places when Gasol decided to return to the city where he became a star (he was MVP at Akasvayu in 2006). After a very difficult season with the Lakers and the disappointment of the Tokyo Olympics, the legend signed for the club he presides over in November. Since then the team has been very in tune and, under the halo of its leader, it is now one step away from the ACB.
Students, meanwhile, were relegated last season for the first time in their 74 years of existence. In the summer, they opted for a facelift in all the club’s plots and, despite this and having one of the best squads in the category, they did not get direct promotion, although after beating Valladolid in the playoffs prior to the Final Four with a lot of authority (3-0) and their serious game against Palencia, it seems that they arrive in top form and eager to return to the gold category.
