• Conflict. Ascents or the "unfeasible" ACB with 20 teams?
  • Antonio Martín. "We are more of dialogue than threats"

Stripped of travel, hotels, meetings and protocols, but with a more charged telematic agenda than ever, the president of the Spanish Basketball Federation (FEB) has experienced in these uncertain times of confinement his 'little great revolution' on a personal level, his daughter Candela, born in February. After the earthquake of the Olympic postponement and waiting for the inevitable battle with the ACB for promotions from LEB Oro, Jorge Garbajosa also reaps institutional successes. Valencia will organize the final phase of Eurobasket 2021 : "We are delighted to give yet another boost to our commitment to women's basketball."

Do not get bored, we are concerned about everyone's health, logically. And we are concerned with many things. Internationally, the restructuring of competitions after the postponement of the Games. Changing the calendar of the four-year period in nine days was entertaining ... The possible resumption of our competitions [Women's League and LEB Gold down], trying to make everyone understand that not everyone will be happy ... Does it affect not being able to take advantage of the pull of the world champion (male) and Europe (female)? We had the planned tours, with part in Spain and part in Asia. In addition to the economic, the moment of flow, of enthusiasm with our selections ... It has suffered a break that we would have liked to avoid. The good part is that the competitions are going to be held all. The economic impact for this year is noticeable, but the stability achieved allows us to endure to see it in the long term. In another era ... It would have been dramatic. Now it is difficult and serious, as for everyone. But she catches us with the long-awaited zero debt and it is not the same. And sports? We analyze for weeks, the technicians are not exactly resting. The key is 'It is what there is'. You cannot fight the situation. Lucas Mondelo explained it. For a veteran it may be too much another year, but he will also have a break, which is not so usual. For the youngest, it will be one more year of experience. What matters most to me is the illusion. You see Pau Gasol or Laia Palau who do not look at the DNI. They look at her body, her mentality and her ambition. This summer we will not have the usual medals in training basketball. Will this halt take its toll in the future? We do not rule out that it affects them. There was no other choice but to suspend international competitions, more in the case of minors. They are absolutely key in the development of a young player, without underestimating the work with their clubs. They will not have that differential point. We are worried a lot. Will Pau come to the Games? It is not only that they have been postponed, it is that, although he continues working, he cannot do it in the same conditions as in normal circumstances. What I'm most excited about is seeing his mental strength. With that, Pau goes wherever he wants. It is hard to think that we have seen his last game. In 2008, when the Beijing Games ended, a colleague of yours asked me, is it going to be Pau's last year with Spain? We are in 2020 and he will do everything possible to recover and be with the team. It's hard to imagine a selection without Pau. But it also cost without Navarro, without Calderón, without Felipe ... but it is life. The Games were the ideal setting for goodbye. What tribute could you do to him? You should be applauding him for 10 years. Scariolo said it these days: Pau's career is so great, that hopefully he can say goodbye as he likes. But if your foot doesn't allow it, nothing can tarnish it. For me he is the best player in the history of FIBA ​​basketball. A tournament more or less ... I want more for him. How are the renovations of Scariolo and Mondelo going? Their work is above the medals. If I am reelected, I would like to see them continue for four more years. They are the best possible selectors. We start talking, but one trains in Japan and the other in the US. There are fringes, calendar, compatibility ... They are not easy contracts. But the predisposition of the two parts is total. There are things to polish, but when two want to be together, they almost always end up together. In such a situation, what made you decide to also choose to organize the final phase of the 2021 Women's European Championship? It was a team effort with the federation French. When the coronavirus arrived, France lacked guarantees and they expressed their concern that they were going to be short on time. And, as if it were a team, when a player is having a bad time, another comes and gives him a hand. With the Trinidad Alfonso Foundation and the Valencian administrations, it is not that they had to be convinced. They almost surpass us in illusion. Delighted to give a further boost to our commitment to women's basketballMonday is the deadline to decide whether to resume the FEB competitions. Optimist? Reality changes your perspective in hours. We must collect all the data and not be carried away by emotions. It is not easy, but we want to play. But there are two things that we are not going to give up: comply with all government protocols and never put the health of any athlete or anyone involved at risk. Not all LEB teams are for the work: players who have left, economic damage ... It is understandable, logical and legitimate. We include 200 clubs and it is impossible for us to agree. We cannot go case by case because it will not rain to everyone's liking. We have established criteria that in my opinion are the most consistent. With 70% of the competitions contested, the results are worth it. But at the same time we cannot punish teams with relegation. Antonio Martín's words about the impossibility of a 20-team ACB clash squarely with the FEB's proposals. It is a matter of empathy. We understand that there are no decreases in ACB. In fact, we have done the same in our leagues. But denying someone their merits, when there has been 70% of the competition played, is not fair. It is said, the CBA is not going to stop, but it is not so easy. The Sports Law indicates that there is a coordination agreement. What it says there is that there have to be two promotions to the Endesa league when the season ends. In this exceptional situation, exceptional, creative, empathetic, global vision must be taken. But there is also an agreement and our clubs consider that they deserve promotion. We are with them. Does the agreement, legally, prove the FEB right? The clauses are relatively simple. At the end of the competitions, the Federation will propose the two teams that will form part of the Endesa League. Then the economic constraints have to pass, which for three years have been much more bearable. They boast of a cordial relationship, but the president of the ACB spoke of "burofaxes and threats." I do not consider myself alluded to. In the time that Antonio Martín has been president, he has never received a FEB burofax. When I had to comment on something, I called him directly. The relationship is cordial, based on an important premise: Spanish basketball is one. Sometimes the criteria do not match. And it is time to speak and apply the agreements. Do you think the position of the ACB clubs is selfish? Each one looks at their interests, but as FEB we have to seek the global interest. What is important is knowing that there are clubs that perhaps tomorrow can be seen in a similar situation and then their opinion will be different. Coherence: where does the solution go? FIBA ​​has postponed the pre-Olympic games for next year by one week. With the calendar problem, a week, even if it seems frivolous, is decisive. They can fit three or four parties. Furthermore, competition systems are not set in stone. There are solutions. Are we committed to the intervention of the CSD or the tribals? I would like to avoid the CSD or go to court. I would like basketball to be an example, reaching agreements without the intervention of anyone. If finally it is necessary, we would resort to these classes, but it would hurt. Don't you think that it is a fundamental problem, of an already impossible calendar? It is a coordination problem. The dates are finite, but steps have been taken. That ULEB President Van der Spiegel is a member of FIBA ​​is decisive. If we propose, there is a gap. There is a calendar problem, but it has a solution.

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