The party of the champions, between Juancho's prophecy and Lorenzo Brown's cry: "Long live Espano!"

• Interview Sergio Scariolo: "People identify with these players because they are normal"

• Lorenzo Brown From the controversial express nationalization to the hero of Spain: "I have endured a lot of criticism"

The shirt of your adopted country cannot be better defended, nor can it be summed up so well -in an incomprehensible, unpronounceable language- the cataract of emotions.

did it first on the track and today with a microphone.

"Long live Espano," stammered the point guard, one of the European champion's heroes.

And the WiZink Center, stunned, had no choice but to applaud the hero.

Like the rest of his classmates, with an honorable mention for

brothers

.

A brief party, lasting 45 minutes, bathed in the fury of the young people and the rojigualda flags.

A close at the level of the Eurobasket champions, commanded by

, their captain.

A mass bath for this team that is so exemplary in so many aspects.

Between the golden confetti and the aroma of glory, the boys bounced and danced in a circle.

"Do you remember the movie The Pursuit of Happyness, by Will Smith?"

asked .

"That's the message from this team. Don't let anyone tell you you can't do something. If you want it, go for it."

No one is as accustomed to these splendors as Rudy, master of ceremonies, as punctual in remembering

, absent due to injury, as in thanking the coach who has led him to four European gold medals.

"We have lived through everything, but what you have done with this team is something incredible," he snapped at Scariolo.

"They have made me believe that we could achieve it, they have made me enjoy it as if I were 20 years old," he added.

Of course, in the confession section, none is as spontaneous as

: "I know you're doing it for my own good. Because of those fights that have fallen on me and those that will fall on me in the future," admitted the Eurobasket MVP, in charge to give rise to who else burned the microphone.

"He's going to say a few words to us in Spanish," said the pivot, while he whispered in Lorenzo's ear.

And from there, to the top, to the point of no return: "Hello. Long live Spanish!".

"Don't worry, they're all going to come in today"

Since leaving the Hotel Meliá Castilla, north of the capital, Willy and Juancho had been what they are: guys determined to succeed in the NBA.

They leaned out of the elevator door and the eddy of onlookers made way for their feet.

Nobody can argue in this team with its magnetism, nor its power of seduction.

And perhaps none will go with the security in their forces of Juancho.

"Before the final I told

: 'Don't worry, they were all going to enter today," revealed the Raptors forward.

Not even when he took off his sunglasses could he dodge the aura of a movie star.

"I've been in a movie, but this is better," said the star of

, where he has shared the lead with

.

Juancho Hernangómez greets the fans. JUANJO MARTÍNEFE

Nothing to do, for example, with

, relentlessly acclaimed by WiZink.

There is something in this boy, in his naturalness and openness, in his effort and commitment, that dazzles people.

"This has been touching the sky, but I'm left with something else, with the experience of a coaching staff, a Federation that supports us. There is no gold worth these people," said the Unicaja point guard.

The matter had really begun to heat up with his irruption.

The chords of

by The White Stripes gave way to a unanimous monochord shout by the redhead.

From there, an unstoppable crescendo.

The adolescent howls in favor of the Hernangómez brothers, both received in the name of MVP.

And when Rudy appeared, with the cup in hand, the inevitable

overflowed the euphoria.

"Now you will contradict me, as always"

The team arrived, half exhausted, half tipsy, meeting the deadlines on the agenda with exquisite punctuality.

During his meeting with the press, the institutional message of

, president of the Federation, was reconciled with the amazing loquacity of Sergio Scariolo and the closeness of Rudy Fernández.

"Young people are more eager, of course, but I also want to celebrate it with the people."

When captain and coach passed each other on the way to the microphone, Scariolo challenged him with a wide smile: "Now you will contradict me, as always."

Beneath the joke was the affection of so many years in the dressing room, of so many celebrations since that long-ago final of the Beijing Games.

Today, at 37 years old, Rudy still doesn't want to get off this ship.

The next journey begins on the way to the World Cup.

And the WiZink in full is dying to return.

This is how champions already dream of it, with the family photo and the

with the fans as an epilogue, with the immortal beats of

.

Conforms to The Trust Project criteria

Know more

• Articles Miguel A. Herguedas

• eurobasketball