The Peña plants the cradle flag in Europe

BadalonaWhen Badalona hits hard, La Penya dreams big. Asisa Joventut steamrolled AEK Athens to plant their flag in Europe, placing themselves one victory away from the Basketball Champions League final four. Led by Ricky Rubio, the local team put on a show of strength (88-66). The quarter-final tie, currently level at one win each, will be decided on Wednesday in Greece.

AEK, aspiring to play in the European NBA, left their yellow jerseys in Athens and only traveled with the black ones. FIBA asked La Penya not to play with their traditional green and black kit, but the Catalan club, aware it was a historic night, did not accept.

The Palau Olímpic time-traveled and transformed into the mythical Ausiàs March Pavilion. The fans reveled in a victory of the kind that will be recounted every time someone asks about the green and black DNA. A few dozen Greek fans, who ended up fighting among themselves and filling the venue with tobacco smoke, occupied one of the upper stands of a pavilion that had heightened security measures.

Dani Miret, who again had the absences of Guillem Vives, Ante Tomic, and Simon Birgander, was able to use Cameron Hunt. The coach once again succeeded with a plan as brave as it was well-worked. La Penya took advantage of the initial adrenaline to start the game opening a significant gap. The verdinegra difference reached 26 points during a first half that local fans will take a long time to forget (51-25). AEK tried to reconnect with the game by increasing their defensive level, but they reached halftime with a very unfavorable scenario (53-31).

Ricky Rubio, who understood like no one else what the game meant, made sure that Asisa Joventut did not come out relaxed after the break. Dragan Sakota forced his expulsion to try to shake up the night emotionally, but La Penya reached the last ten minutes with the upper hand (72-55).

AEK's comeback added emotion to a game that La Penya did not deserve to lose.