This is meant to be a neutral basketball outlet but how could it be on this night. Baxi Ferrol, with Monasterevin and Ireland’s Claire Melia took the court in search of a dream. Emmet Ryan was there to witness their battle with Villeneuve d’Ascq in the second leg of the Eurocup Women final.
Not all dreams have a happy ending. The important thing is to get the chance to dream at all. The final hurdle of Eurocup Women was one leap too far for Baxi Ferrol. Such is the way with basketball. Still, against a great Villeneuve d’Ascq side, they fought with spirit. More importantly, throughout this past season, they proved they belong amongst the best in the sport.
Good grief the nerves
The Baxi Ferrol fans, supplemented by around 30 people that made the trip from Ireland on Wednesday morning, were in full song an hour before tip. There is, of course, no cheering in the press box. Internally I was screaming. Just 4 points. Barely two possessions. That’s nothing in basketball. Hope was real but so too were the nerves.
Tuesday night was spent, after a lot of work, with Emma, Javi, Jorge, and their friends. A few beers in a loud bar before a necessary good night’s sleep. The interest from back home was enormous. A slot before breakfast on Morning Ireland, one later on Nuacht TG4. Right here, just the 4 places to send reports of some sort (including this wonderful site). Ireland wanted to believe in Claire Melia.
Eurocup Women was unknown to Ireland until a couple of weeks ago. The city of Ferrol, never mind Baxi Ferrol, was an afterthought. People are probably still struggling to remember Villeneuve d’Ascq’s name to be honest. In just a short time, so much had changed. Here we were, in more hope than expectation.
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Gallant and gutsy
The fight in the Baxi Ferrol players was obvious but so too were the nerves early on. With their shots not falling, they quickly fell behind in the Eurocup Women final. Villeneuve d’Ascq came out with thunderous force.
After falling behind by 10 early, Ferrol had it cut back to a 3 point deficit early in the second quarter. Still, the physicality and experience of the French side was beginning to show. Basketball’s Cinderella couldn’t keep pace and trailed by 12 at the break. Still they kept fighting.
Even as Villeneuve d’Ascq padded their lead in the third quarter, effectively putting the title out of reach, the fight remained in Ferrol. Melia, Julie Pospisilova, Mo Joiner, Angela Mataix, Jori Davis, and the rest left it all on the floor.
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What a journey
There was no fairytale ending for Baxi Ferrol. That will sting with the players, coaches, fans, and all the volunteers for a while. That’s ok. What they have done here this season is simply incredible.
At every stage, the odds were against them. Through the qualifiers, the group phase, and four knockout rounds, they beat them. That it took a final against the team that finished second in Euroleague Women last season to end the dream is a testament to their resolve.
If nothing else, one Irish journalist has fallen in love with a small city in Galicia. The people of Ireland, especially those in basketball, are so grateful to have been a part of this story. One of our own, Claire Melia from Monasterevin, fought with you and took down some giants of European basketball. This may not have been Ferrol’s night but the memories of this magical journey will live forever.
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