The Galician government officially welcomed Monbus Obradoiro to the Pazo de Raxoi on Monday to honor the club’s promotion to the Liga Endesa, secured last Friday at the Multiusos Fontes do Sar. Diego Epifanio’s team clinched the Primera FEB regular-season title with 28 wins and just 4 defeats, earning a return to the ACB two seasons after being relegated. The ceremony featured Galician President Alfonso Rueda, Diego Calvo (Minister of Presidency, Justice, and Sports), club president Raúl López, and a squad delegation led by captain Sergi Quintela, the team’s Galician representative.
Quintela addressed the gathering, thanking the government for its year-round support and emphasizing that the achievement reaches far beyond Santiago. “We knew we weren’t just representing Santiago, but all of Galicia. As the Galician player on the roster, I want to thank every player, every coach, and every office worker. It was a tough year, but together we carried the name of Obradoiro and Galicia across Spain in a way we can all be proud of,” he said.
Raúl López reflected on the painful relegation in 2024 and the uphill battle since then. “I’ll never forget two things: the agony of relegation in 2024. With five minutes left, we were safe, and in five minutes it slipped away. That fueled two brutal years—we knew we had to come back. But coming back is harder than going down,” he stated. The Obradoiro president extended gratitude to the entire organization, including the back-office staff “without visible names, but without whom none of this would have been possible.” He also highlighted the fan response during the decisive match against Gipuzkoa. “What happened on Friday in Sar was unique. The arena was packed—more than packed—and thousands more were outside. People from all over Spain called me saying they’ve never seen anything like it.”
López used the moment to issue a call for local business backing. “Obradoiro is a brand of Santiago. Business owners have to help. In a small city, it’s not easy to reach the top without everyone’s support. We need to build a competitive squad and we can’t always struggle along the way.” He confirmed that while players begin their vacation, the club has already started planning for the ACB season.
Diego Calvo praised the team for an “intense campaign” culminating in promotion on the final day. He commended the offensive style and the squad’s role as an ambassador for Galician sports and the ‘Galicia Calidade’ brand. “We also have to thank the Obradoiro fans for making us cheer through a very intense season that didn’t start well but ended as it should—with promotion.” Calvo expressed hope for a stable era in the top flight. “Now we expect a year of consolidation, always looking upward, so we can keep enjoying the joy you bring us.”
President Alfonso Rueda closed the event by thanking the team after days of celebration and acknowledging the collective effort that turned a challenging season into a historic comeback. He noted that the promotion reflects the resilience of both the club and the city, and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting sports as a driver of regional identity and economic growth.
