What can I say about this experience? Since the moment than me and a friend knew the World Cup was going to celebrate in Spain we had a clear vision: We had to go to the USA group. Bilbao was assigned for the group of USA basketball later.
I was very nervous the launch date of tickets sale. More remembering my precedents with the Eurobasket 2007. But I will narrate that story in other post. Luckily I got the cheapest tickets so we lived all matches by around 100 euro. A bargain!!! Later Spain would lose in the quarter finals against France. A cruel disappointment but not for the result … only for lose the chance to see a big final between Spain and USA. At least Spain would reach the redemption one year later in Lille.
In order to know the remainder history you only have to follow the captions. There is a lot of dedication here so remember: If you don’t like it, somebody will like it. Now enjoy!
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- The countdown in the TV. I can’t wait!
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- Here we go!
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- Fan Zone. This is only the entrance
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- The “arena”. The BEC is really a trade fairs building
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- The Bilbao Exhibition Centre is longer than 1km. Really is huge!
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- The Ukraine’s tent
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- More tents of the Fan Zone
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- The entrance to the arena
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- The ex-laker Stanislav Medvedenko
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- My first impression of the arena
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- My original seat. In this place is where it become obvious that this building is not a basketball arena. The roof is very close and the air conditioning kills you
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- The flags appears in the court for the national anthems
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- Watching the game in the row over Arturas Karnisovas and the USA scouting team
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- We changed the seats for the last minutes
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- What do you think about “Carmelo Boozer”? This was the reaction xD
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- Nice placement to watch the Turkey VS New Zealand
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- Impossible to access to USA team before the game
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- And absolutely impossible to access them after the game
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- The Finland fans preparing the match. Incredible atmosphere thanks to them
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- Watching the USA team pre warm-up in first row
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- Side change for the team. Side change for us xD
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- The assistant coach Tom Thibodeau. Maybe you don’t know he also was the assistant coach of Jeff Van Gundy in the last Knicks Finals in 1999
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- Don Stephen! I know it is going to seem opportunist but he surprised me specially. I must recognize I couldn’t imagine he would be the NBA MVP the following season but without doubt he had something special. You can’t miss the video of his shooting session!
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- The rest of the team comes for the pre warm-up. Derrick Rose and James Harden between others
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- Rose, Irving and Harden. Not bad … In fact Kyrie would be the tournament MVP hehe
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- The warm-up. New clothing of course!
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- With the businessman of the USA team: Jerry Colangelo
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- Finland starts winning hehe
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- Making some finnish friends
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- Blue uniform today
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- Turkey leads by 5 in the half-time
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- The routine in the Finland’s hotel. Here a girl attracted my attention … she had a Koponen jersey that it seemed special haha. The girl called Linda resulted to be the Koponen’s girlfriend and asked me 500 euro by the jersey. After this my friends didn’t trust me but my experience in jerseys was telling me the girl said the true. So I’ve checked the girl’s version on google and I confirmed it hehe
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- I haven’t a personal picture but that’s the girl. Yes, now they are husband and wife
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- Other knickerbocker with Finland xD
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- Event advertising in the bus stops
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- Also in the buses
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- The other Fan Zone in the heart of Bilbao
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- The main court from closer
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- Equiped with a giant screen. BBVA in the distance … coincidence? maybe, or maybe not
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- Unforgettable!
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- Muggsy Bogues and Volkov behind. First warning of the URSS before Seul. I was very youngster yet. Anyway Seul wouldn’t be the first Olympic gold medal for the URSS
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- The Guggenheim
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- Nice jersey xD
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- Splash brothers in action. Klay Thompson in the corner and Curry with the assist. Elegance
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- Rudy Gay is jealous … we shout many names and not his xD
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- Stephen playing with us! Check the videos!!!
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- So he won me definitely. This picture is accepted as proof?
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- Or this? xD
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- Second quarter … and yes! First row seats!
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- Where is Wally? Just above Stephen
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- Where is Wally this time? 😉
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- The USA team showing gratitude to the fans
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- An Ukraine match worn and signed jersey far away. I can’t buy it so I’m not going to move closer hehe
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- Just finished the final game of the day … An ACDC concert! They were imitators but it was the best concert I’ve experienced in live! And for free!!!
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- Unexpected and unforgettable experience. Amazing
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- Another reason to live this events: meet new people and make new friends
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- Made in Finland. Non-crowd system for babies haha
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- Me and my friend supporting Ukraine below Volkov. He was with Marciulionis the first sovietic in play in the NBA. I could assure that the black woman is the Pooh Jeter’s mum hehe
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- Great view from the Ukraine section
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- The half-time show. Spectacular dunks … with trampolines
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- Supporting Finland with some new friends. The best fans I’ve never seen. The result it doesn’t matter. It was harder find a seat with them than in first row
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- Nice hats haha
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- The Haka!!!
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- The last time hering the USA national anthem
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- Elegance. Ukraine leading by 7 in first quarter
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- Second quarter
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- See you soon USA!
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- We sneaked in an Ukraine unexpected ceremony
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- The players and the team staff received a medal. I was the next but the girl changed his mind in the last moment … I wore the wrong clothing … see next pictures haha
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- With a really big man: Slava Kravtsov
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- The respected coach and TNT commentator Mike Fratello. He was the third coach of Pau Gasol in the Memphis Grizzlies
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- Our favorite place after the Fan Zone: The Finland’s hotel
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- Souvenir 1 obtained in the Fan Zone
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- Souvenir 2 obtained in in an exchange with other fan
