Unicaja's fairytale in Badalona: inside historical giants killers run / News - Basketnews.com

Unicaja Malaga became the first team since 1953 to defeat Barcelona and Real Madrid in the same Copa del Rey tournament and BasketNews takes a look at what led to this incredible achievement.

Credit: ZUMAPRESS.com-Scanpix Credit ZUMAPRESS.com-Scanpix

If Germani Brescia shocked everyone in Turin, what Unicaja Malaga did in Badalona was a fairytale.

The Andalusian club made history, becoming the first team to beat FC Barcelona and Real Madrid in the same Copa del Rey since 1953. They were also the first to defeat two powerhouses in the same tournament since the ACB era began (1983).

It was their second Spanish Cup ever, 18 years later from the first one, with Jorge Garbajosa crowned as the MVP in Zaragoza.

Unicaja lost the finals in 2009 and 2020. But Tyson Carter led the team to success this weekend. The American guard, who is playing in Unicaja on loan from Zenit St Petersburg, ended the final with 17 points, 16 of them in a crucial second half.

He came on the court with Unicaja down by 8 (44-52). When he sat down again, the Andalusian team was up by 6 (78-72). Carter's accuracy from beyond the arc made the difference.

Unicaja beat all the odds. Only 3.2% of the users who played in the official ACB Bracket for the Copa bet for Ibon Navarro's guys to become champions.

3 wins in a row in just 4 days against three teams (Barca, Madrid, and Tenerife), Unicaja didn't win this season in the domestic league.

"I'm happy and proud of these guys. I don't want to sound like an American coach, but I love them a lot. Unity, cohesion and meaning of a family are really similar to what is this team," head coach Ibon Navarro said in the post-game conference.

Unicaja shared in their social media channels a paper in their locker room with these values written:

Togetherness. Trust. Being professional. Positive attitude. Discipline. Commitment. Enjoy together. Leadership. Adaptability.

These words mean a lot, which is a good way to understand and explain Unicaja's success in Badalona.

BasketNews was at Badalona and could notice different examples of those values.

After the final buzzer, Dario Brizuela looked around to find Augusto Lima and give him a hug. The Brazilian center could not help his teammates in this Copa due to an injury, but he was part of all the celebrations. Lima cheered his team from the bench alongside Yankuba Sima the whole weekend. Togetherness.

Alberto Diaz led the positive attitude a team needs to crown. The terrific redhead defender who shined with the National Team in the last EuroBasket exemplified his character once again.

After missing two free throws in the clutch moments of the final, he stole a ball and dished an assist to Dylan Osetkowski, who did not miss and sealed the win with a 3-pointer.

"For a guy from Malaga who has risen in this club, this title is a huge honor. I'm really proud," Diaz confessed in the mix zone.

With their centers sidelined (Lima and Sima), Unicaja's players showed adaptability. Kravish was important against Barca and Madrid. He punished the Blaugranas with the roll while he destroyed the Blancos warding off Tavares from the rim.

If we want to talk about commitment, Dario Brizuela undeniably emerges as the main protagonist.

He could not hide his feelings after the quarterfinal performance, where he scored 27 points to defeat Barca. He revealed the reason for his tears, as his son had spent the previous days in the hospital.

His teammates convinced him to play, and now he has returned to Malaga with the trophy in his hands.

Tactically, Ibon Navarro proved how great he is. In every single game, his players executed his game plan incredibly well.

Barca could not stop the off-screen situations from Unicaja, with Will Thomas dishing from the low post. They could neither stop Dario Brizuela. In the semis, Kravish and Osetkowski forced Madrid's big guys to leave the paint. They had no mercy from beyond the arc.

Unicaja played well and showed more desire than any other team. Their defense activity and intensity were unmatched.

With 9 new players on the roster for this season, Unicaja looked like a solid team with clear ideas.

"If something prevails in this group, it is the lack of selfishness. We all put the team before individual interests. Some may think that it is my merit, but there is a lot of work behind selecting people, and it is also part of luck. You cannot control how they're all going to fit in, and they've done it very well," Navarro explained.

Unexpectedly, as it had not happened since 2009, Badalohostedost a Copa del Rey final without Madrid and Barca. Neither EuroLeague nor EuroCup teams reached the final.

Unicaja celebrated their second Copa with their fans, firstly in the arena (sometimes you feel like you were in Malaga) and then in the airport, where hundreds of supporters came to greet the champs.

Ibon had a plan. A new project has been born in Malaga.

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