The Obradoiro celebration extended long after the final buzzer. The Monbus Obradoiro had just defeated Inveready Gipuzkoa 85-68, securing their return to the Liga Endesa just two seasons after relegation. The Multiusos Fontes do Sar remained packed, not emptying when the game ended or even when the team received the Primera FEB championship trophy. Over 6,100 fans filled the arena, with hundreds more watching from outside on a giant screen, creating a night of collective redemption.
Diego Epifanio’s team needed this victory to clinch the title and direct promotion. They achieved it, recording their 28th win and surpassing Leyma Coruña on head-to-head average in the two derbies. The emotional final was a response to the cruel relegation in 2024, when a three-way tie with Covirán Granada and Río Breogán left Obradoiro out of the ACB, ending their longest stable run in the top flight.
Club president Raúl López, still emotional from shedding the weight of two difficult years, said: “This drives you crazy. You say: it’s worth it. The efforts, the tears, the disappointments.” When reminded of his tears from the relegation, he looked at the crowd singing ‘Miudiño’ and the team lifting the trophy. “Maximum joy. What can I say? It’s right here,” he summarized, pointing to the stands. López acknowledged the work ahead: “From Monday, we start working. Today we celebrate, tomorrow we work.”
General manager Héctor Galán, who arrived with the clear mandate to promote, reflected on the journey. “When the president first called me, he said we had to get promoted. I said: let’s go, full speed.” The first season fell short, but the second succeeded despite a tough league with injuries, pressure, and a strong nearby rival in Leyma Coruña. “Credit goes to the players and coaching staff. They fought like wild boars and we earned it.” Galán shared the success across the club’s departments, noting that whenever they needed to push harder, it was always “let’s go forward.”
Head coach Diego Epifanio, brought in to return Obradoiro to ACB, finally spoke the word that seemed forbidden for months: promotion. “We did it. I think there are many of us. To finish first in a regular season takes a lot of people: players, the arena, the office staff, our fans. We did it. Being first is very cool.” Epifanio adds Obradoiro to his resume of promotions with San Pablo Burgos, Río Breogán, and Leyma Coruña, confirming his reputation as a category specialist. His speech was less statistical and more human: “We’ve been through very bad, very hard moments, and we knew how to stay together. Now we have to know how to enjoy together, because I believe we deserve it.”
On the court, shooting guard Sergi Quintela stood out with 20 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 assist. The night was a testament to perseverance, community, and a promise kept.
