BARCELONA, 19 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The 2023 Basketball King’s Cup, which will be played from February 16 to 19, will “stay” in Badalona, due to the investment in infrastructure that the Catalan town will carry out, according to what was stated this Tuesday in the official presentation at the Marina Port Hotel in Badalona.
The event was attended by the mayor of Badalona, Rubén Guijarro; the president of the acb, Antonio Martín; and representatives of the sports, business and political network of the city, which will host the tournament again 38 years later.
“That the Copa del Rey comes to Badalona is a shot of energy and brutal self-esteem. It is a pride as a city that basketball returns to its cradle because, for Badalona, this is much more than a mere basketball competition. They are our mini-Olympics and will be a turning point for the city”, confessed the mayor of Badalona, Rubén Guijarro.
Guijarro stressed that he wants to take the Cup to all parts of the city, with a sports and cultural program that shows Badalona “with optimism for the future.” “The Cup is not going to be held in Badalona, it is going to stay in Badalona because of the investment in sports facilities. It is our commitment so that this Cup stays here and is not just a fleeting step”, concluded Guijarro.
The president of the acb, Antonio Martín, declared himself satisfied with a “safe bet” for the enthusiasm of the entire city, for how he has turned to build a “wonderful event” for Badalona and for the organization he directs. “Our goal is for the city to have a good time because, if so, the fans who come will also have a good time,” he said.
“It is fair for what this city means for basketball. The Cup, in addition to the economic or media return, seeks to awaken or recover the illusion of sport for many people, as we have recently experienced in Granada. Whoever hosts the Cup enjoy because that is transmitted to the whole world”, added Martín.
More than 60 people from sports clubs, business groups and associations and representatives of the town hall and political groups have accompanied the president of the acb and the mayor at the event, showing their support for the event.
THE MINICOPA IN LLEFIÁ
The final phase of the Endesa Mini Cup, the tournament parallel to the Copa del Rey played by the best children’s teams in the Endesa League, will be played in the Llefià pavilion.
Badalona City Council, in addition to setting up shuttle buses for fans, will remodel the Llefià pavilion, both the track and the changing rooms, and will place extra stands, allowing a capacity of more than 1,000 spectators, to achieve the best possible setting for a Mini Cup Endesa that does not stop growing year after year.
Mayor Rubén Guijarro pointed out that the acb and Badalona worked with different alternatives until they reached the conclusion that Llefiá, in the largest neighborhood in the city, was the space to host the Endesa Mini Cup. “It has a magnificent facility and parallel activities can be carried out nearby,” he pointed out.
For his part, Antonio Martín vindicated the strength of a tournament that goes more each year. “This trophy is going to grow because it is decided by whoever consumes it, the fan, who has fun with such pure basketball. The fan’s youth academy is as important as the team’s youth academy and Badalona is the place to hold an Endesa Mini Cup”, commented.
In addition, during the event it was confirmed that the final of the Endesa Mini Cup will be played at the Pavelló Olímpic in Badalona.
PEDRO MARTINEZ, JOEL PARRA AND ANNA CRUZ BET FOR THE CUP
In addition to the political, trade union and business representatives, the event was attended by Pedro Martínez, BAXI Manresa coach, who explained what the tournament means for each protagonist who disputes it.
“The Cup is a fantastic competition from inside and outside. There is a lot at stake from the first moment: win or go home, and that makes it super exciting. Playing on a weekend motivates the teams to give their best from the first moment and the motivation is brutal”, he said.
For his part, the Joventut player Joel Parra, Best Young Player of the Endesa League 2021-22, showed that, despite not having the coach’s vast cup experience, he does share his enthusiasm for the event. “It has become a magical competition, with all the fans united. You can lose against anyone, there are no favorites, and that makes it special, so I was quite happy when I saw that it was played here. In Badalona everyone lives basketball and playing at home is an extra motivation, although you have to go out and enjoy the Cup”, he said.
And the international and Spanish women’s basketball legend Anna Cruz defined the tournament as “the basketball party”. “It’s what we all want to experience, where anything can happen. And it was time for him to come to Badalona, characterized by breathing basketball. That the Cup is held here for the little ones is important, because they will have at their fingertips high-level players,” he declared.