• Goodbye to the Gasols "We got off this beautiful attraction"

  • Chronicle USA frustrates Spain again

  • Until the kitchen Abrupt end of a magical era

It was not the perfect epilogue, but it is that the film of the last two decades of Spanish basketball had so many emotions, so many moments not even dreamed of, that shortly after the umpteenth frustration against the United States was unleashed in the bowels of the Saitama Super Arena a irrepressible torrent of nostalgia.

The Gasols, Pau and Marc

, giants even in their decline, closed the circle with the confirmation of their goodbye to the shirt that became a legend. There could not be a more iconic place on the planet for this to happen or a more noble opposite rival for the final thrust.

"We got off this beautiful ride that we got on 15 years ago." Marc Gasol's words could not be better chosen either. Because everything turned out to be an exciting back and forth. If together they jumped in an All Star at Madison Square Garden, they said goodbye to the team with which they won the most. Brothers in

the Family

to which twenty-somethings entered and forty-something are leaving, a life in which they carried a backpack of medals and imperishable scenes.

It wasn't a triumphant finish, personally cruel for them - no basket against USA Team between the two, Pau didn't even appear in the second half - but as sentimental as one might expect.

"It was worth it," Pau cleared up any doubt, who will now think about the future with his family, although there is nothing to indicate that there will be another dance on the court for him.

"Proud of our players"

Because his presence in Tokyo did not respond exclusively to the contribution on the field. If this group had something it was the ability to honor those who made it great. It is really remarkable that none of the protagonists of the golden generation went through the back door. All -

Carlos Jiménez, Garbajosa, Calderón, Felipe Reyes, Navarro

...-, they did it when they saw fit, with as much respect for their careers as for themselves. And what could be a toll is part of the secret. "It is another day to be proud of our players. For what they have shown, for the way they have competed and for not giving up. Hopefully the young people will learn from them. This is the part of this story that really makes them legend, no only for basketball, also for world sport. We will miss them, "said

Sergio Scariolo

.

Another detail of the noon in Saitama speaks of that ambition that made Pau a myth. With all the elegance that exudes and reproaching himself more than Scariolo, the pivot was not entirely satisfied with the game, with that blur in the last scene. "I am competitive and I would like to spend 40 minutes on the track contributing to the team things that I am used to doing," he said, as a hymn to what can no longer be. The coach, who at no time wanted to dishonor Pau by making him jump onto the pitch in the garbage minutes - "it would have been a very serious lack of respect. After all he has done to recover, you can't give him a bitch like that, go out in cold "-, he spoke of the moments lived in that dressing room, a deeper communion in the harsh moments.Because although the announcement was made by the brothers, it is very likely that someone else had played their last game with Spain.

Pau Gasol and Sergio Rodríguez.FIBA

There, in that group, in that "unforgettable moment", in which Scariolo asked them to stop thinking about the game, "to live the privilege of being part of this legend, of the pride that must be felt for having been an example incredible, in Spain and outside of Spain ", the minds of the protagonists passed, one by one, mental slides of those incidents. From that other unforgettable day in Saitama, 15 years ago, in which they stepped on the moon with Pau Gasol injured. Or the Olympic finals in Beijing and London, astonishing the planet. Or those continental golds, to which better, Katowice, Kaunas and Lille. Even the latest boast, the still recent climax of the 2019 World Cup ... Also, for sure, setbacks like this Tuesday, from those that always rose, those Games in Athens,

holden's shot

in the Palace or, also there, the biggest blur of all, that of the 2014 World Cup. "It was a moment to savor. Not to enjoy it, because we had lost, but the historical perspective will make us understand how many millions of players or coaches They would have given anything to live this privilege, "claimed Scariolo.

There was no one in Saitama whose eyes did not sparkle with excitement. The circle was closed, now, against

Kevin Durant

. On a night that had a little while for the good times, the last spree, although in that arreón in the second quarter those of Sant Boi were not the protagonists. "We have shared a life together. They are two very special people. They say that how you are outside is reflected on the court. Well, I think the court has not been entirely fair to them. Because outside they are examples of life, of coherence and loyalty to the values ​​they represent ", put the culmination

Jorge Garbajosa

, to whom, in his ear, interrupting his meeting with the press, a certain

Gregg Popovich

had whispered the best of praise:"You always make us get the best out of ourselves. "

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Know more

  • sports

  • Basketball Olympics

  • Spain Olympics

  • Spanish Basketball Team

  • Pau Gasol

  • Marc Gasol

  • HBPR

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