Surne Bilbao will play in Thessaloniki the first match to win the FIBA Europa Cup again against the PAOK
The one-way match of the final will be played this Wednesday from 6:15 p.m. in Palataki, Greece, where the Biscayan team won the title a year ago. EITB, through kirolakeitb.eus and ETB1, will broadcast the match live.
Hlinason Surne Bilbao player. Photo: EFE
Surne Bilbao will play on Wednesday at the Palataki Pavilion in Thessaloniki, from 18:15, the first round of the FIBA Europa Cup final, a double match against the PAOK .
Thegoal of the "men in black" will be to get out alive from the court where they achieved glory last season to finish the final in the Bilbao Arena that will be up to the top next week; there are no more tickets left for that game.
The situation of the champion, the order of the games, which is exactly the opposite of that of 2025, and the excellent role that Jaume Ponsarnau's team has played in the tournament, give them a slight advantage over a rival they have faced this season in two second-stage matches, which ended with the billiards' victories.
However, it is a rising PAOK, very different from the team two months ago. Last month the Slovenian Jure Zdovc was dismissed and his position was taken by Pantelis Boutskos , who is working as interim coach to take office next season by Andrea Trincheri .
The interiors Ben Moore and Cleveland Melvin , the Lithuanian eel Tomas Dimisa and escort Patric Beverley , a player with more than 700 NBA matches, form the backbone of a tough and competitive PAOK with the Greek base Antonis Koniaris.
The ability to run and give the game a high pace will depend to a large extent on the chances of leading the final of a Surne Bilbao that has more offensive talent on paper than the Greek team. Surne Bilbao travels to Greece with Darrun Hilliard recovered from his muscle problem on his right leg; Kepa Castro and Aimar Mintegi will complete an expedition of 14 players, from which Ponsarnau will have to exclude a player from the European Union.
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Wehave been with Jaume Ponsarnau , coach of the Surne Bilbao team and champion of the FIBA Europe Cup , who has won for the second year in a row and with whom we have discussed the details of the final and the atmosphere of the celebration.
Mikel Odriozola celebrates the FIBA Europa Cup singing "Txoria Txori" with fans
Surne Bilbao's assistant coach celebrates the winning title with fans singing "Txoria Txori."
Hundreds of fans have gathered in Bilbao to pay tribute to the FIBA Europa Cup champions
President Isabel Iturbe, Coach Jaume Ponsarnau and Captain Tryggvi Hlinason took the trophy when the team arrived at the City Hall. Acting Mayor of Bilbao, Amaia Arregi, received the team on the stairs.
Harald Frey encourages fans with his song "Jo ta ke"
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Ponsarnau, from the town hall balcony: "This group is wonderful and unique."
The Catalan coach has stressed that "we are going against the current in everything, we have won this trophy twice, like nobody else, and going back to the final, like nobody else did." "But above all, we want to be ourselves and win or lose, if one day it touches, in our own way," he added.
Surne Bilbao offers fans its second FIBA Europa Cup from the town hall balcony
Hundreds of fans have received Surne Bilbao this Thursday in the capital city to celebrate the second consecutive FIBA Europa Cup won by 'men in black' on Wednesday.
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Mikel Odriozola, assistant coach at Surne Bilbao: "It's been a long way, but when it ends like this, it's worth it."
After winning the FIBA Europa Cup for the second time in a row, the coach has highlighted, in Miribilla, the support received from fans, who have enjoyed a great atmosphere in the Bilbao Arena.
Jaume Ponsarnau, Jon Txakartegi: "All these fans have always supported us since I started working here."
Surne Bilbao's coach has been interviewed by EITB announcer Jon Txakartegi in Miribilla after winning the Basque team's second FIBA Europa Cup, a gift from Xabier de la Fuente for Jon Txakartegi.
Hilliard Final MVP, excited: "It's not easy what we've achieved, it's awesome."
Surne Bilbao Basket has won the FIBA Europa Cup for the second time in a row after defeating PAOK Thessaloniki 89-74. Darrun Hilliard, with 16 points, has led the victory of Jaume Ponsarnau's team in the Miribilla pavilion, which was full of necks.