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There are scenarios that inevitably lead to conflict, due to the pure collision of interests. And, despite the fluid relationship between the ACB League and the Spanish Federation (FEB) lately - this was not always the case, far from it - their paths intersect this time with a difficult solution without anyone getting hurt. It is the mess to come, caused by a situation as exceptional as the current one. Trying to simplify: one pretends that two teams ascend to the Endesa League, the other decreed that no one would descend and the league of 20 produces a majority rejection.

And then there are the nuances, which are hundreds. Both sides cling to them, already preparing their legal arguments for a battle that seems inevitable to have a mediator, be it the Superior Sports Council or, worse, the courts.

But what was before, the chicken or the egg?

The pandemic left both the Endesa League and the FEB competitions, from LEB Oro down, halfway. Both have already designed their roadmap to resume (June 1 and May 25 are the deadlines set, respectively, to decide, following the instructions of the health authorities), but, regardless of whether the tournaments can be resolved, the ACB clubs have already decreed, unanimously in their assembly, that none of the 18 teams would lose the category . Subsequently, the Federation's Delegate Commission also concluded the regular season without decreases and established which teams would be promoted in the event that it is not possible to play.

Valladolid and Gipuzkoa

These would be Carramimbre Valladolid, leader of LEB Oro at the time of the break (it was 20 of the 24 days) and Delteco Gipuzkoa de San Sebastián, second classified, both tied with 18 wins and six losses. Under normal circumstances, the champion of the regular league of the second category of national basketball makes the jump to ACB directly. The other ticket is obtained by the winner of the playoffs, according to the coordination agreement signed in the FEB and the ACB three years ago, when they degreased a de facto blockade, since the impossible economic canon prevented the teams from meeting the requirements to go up.

But the point is that exceptionalism will prevent these premises from occurring, especially if the LEB is not resolved. And that is where the ACB, whose clubs have already slipped, are against the competition with 20 teams -the Euroleague- and with four descents scheduled for the following course -the most modest ones-. The words of Josean Querejeta in Onda Cero express the general feeling: «It is unfeasible. There is no date, there is no economy and there are no possibilities for a competition of 20 ». The president of Baskonia also revealed that in "the last assembly, the president of the ACB [Antonio Martín] promised that there would be 18 teams, so we reached an agreement to resume the competition in two groups of six."

An employee disinfects the Baskonia's facilities.

Before that, Jorge Garbajosa had tried to temper bagpipes, although always with his postulates ahead. “We have a very continuous and cordial relationship, but each one defends his interests. The ACB has not said that it will not allow promotions and we have a coordination agreement that establishes two. In the last three years it has been carried out and has made both leagues more powerful, "said the FEB president.

In the interpretation of that agreement is the key. Or, failing that, in the intermediation of a superior entity if, as it seems, a satisfactory agreement is not reached.

Because the first mess is solved, the next one will have to be restarted if there are 20 teams. Although the ACB denies that the clubs have already been surveyed, soon it would have to be solved how the 38 playoffs , the Cup, the FIBA ​​Windows and, of course, the Euroleague and other continental competitions fit together . A league without a final phase, two groups of 10 ...

Endesa League

Optimism for resumption

All the ACB teams have already returned to training (Baskonia, the last one, starts today) and for a few days optimism about the resolution of the championship has soared as the assembly decreed a few days ago: a unique venue, 12 teams and, at most, to its end on July 10. There are several reasons. One is the number of cities that have volunteered to host the event. Of the 10 candidates (Madrid, Barcelona, ​​Valencia, Zaragoza, Las Palmas, Tenerife, Andorra, Menorca, Pamplona and Almería), one will emerge in the coming days, always before June 1. Also the few positive cases for coronavirus that are throwing the tests to the players and technicians. In addition, the mandatory quarantine that the Government established for travelers entering Spain will not affect too much either. As ELMUNDO has learned, foreigners who have not yet returned with their teams are counted on the fingers of one hand.

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  • sports
  • ACB League
  • Coronavirus

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