The 25/26 Liga Endesa season concluded for CB Canarias with a bittersweet feeling after falling in the semifinals against Barça on their home court. Despite the disappointment of not being able to force a fourth game, the more than 5,000 fans present at the Santiago Martín arena rose to give a well-deserved tribute to a team that might be saying goodbye to an era.
The spontaneous and emotional gesture occurred even though the team had lost their last six home games. The crowd's affection weighed more than recent results, recognizing the overall achievements of a squad that, for the second consecutive year, had reached the semifinals, a feat shared only with Valencia Basket.
The applause and chants like "¡Esto sí que es un pedazo equipo!" (This truly is a great team!) not only acknowledged the basketball played by CBCanarias 25/26 but also reflected the intuition of an imminent change of cycle. Next season's roster could be very different, marked by the inevitable passage of time and the age of key players.
The physical wear and tear and the age of veterans like Marcelinho Huertas and Aaron Doornekamp, along with the uncertainty surrounding Gio Shermadini's continuity after his arrhythmia and the likely departure of Patty Mills, point towards a significant overhaul. This cycle, which began in 2019, appears to have reached its end, leaving a legacy of success for the club.
Despite no official announcements, the shared rituals with the crowd, such as singing along with the clapping, evoked the feeling of a victory, serving as an emotional farewell to a squad that has defined an era and will be remembered by the Canary Islands' fans.
