The Martín Carpena arena in Málaga was filled with emotion this Sunday, not only for the game between Unicaja and Valencia Basket, but also for a significant tribute. During halftime, the 25th anniversary of the Málaga club's first major title, the 2001 Korac Cup, was commemorated with the presence of its main protagonists.
Part of that historic team, including Mous Sonko, Kenny Miller, Francis Perujo, Jean Marc Jaumin, Carlos Cabezas, and Berni Rodríguez, gathered on the court. Also joining the celebration were the then-president Ángel Fernández Noriega and the coaching staff, led by the legendary coach Bozidar Maljkovic. Other members, such as Paco Vázquez and Veljko Mrsic, sent their greetings via video, with Mrsic highlighting the Unicaja fans as the "best in Spain".
The highlight of the day was the presentation of Unicaja's Gold Shield to Bozidar Maljkovic by the club president, Antonio Jesús López Nieto. Maljkovic, an emblematic figure in European basketball with four EuroLeague titles, was the architect of the historic 2001 Korac Cup victory, which marked the beginning of Unicaja's golden era. Under his leadership, the team also finished as runner-up in the ACB in the 2001-02 season.
“"I am a Malagueño like you. I understand basketball like you, no more, no less. I was here for four years, thank you for supporting me. These were very good players and they helped Unicaja enter the European basketball map. Many people who come here once, see the city and this and are impressed. Congratulations to our president, Antonio Jesús López Nieto, and to our mayor. Thank you very much. I know I like to talk and that I am very tiresome. Last thing, I have coached three great teams in Spain, apart from Unicaja. Real Madrid, Barcelona and Baskonia and they don't have a crowd like you."
The Martín Carpena crowd responded with a standing ovation to Maljkovic's words, who expressed his deep affection for Málaga and his appreciation for the passion of Unicaja's supporters. This emotional event reaffirmed the legacy of a team that, thanks to these "heroes," has established itself as one of the most respected clubs in continental basketball.
