He baloncesto Spanish is rich in myths and legends. After all, it is one of the sports with the greatest implementation in our society, in fact it is the second with the most federative licenses in Spain. Not only that, but throughout history, there are several Spanish players and teams that have managed to stand out at the highest level. A pantheon in which Epi has a prominent place. Not in vain, his is one of the five numbers that are hanging at the top of the Palau Blaugrana. A small detail if you will, but it helps to understand the dimension of his legacy.
Often, both fans and the media tend to fall into a very unfair presenteeism. Something that happens with special incidence in basketball. Above all, because objectively, The sport of basket lived its period of greatest splendor following the emergence of the so-called gold juniors. An unrepeatable group of players led by an alien like Pau Gasol, clearly the best Spanish player in history. However, this does not mean that Sant Boi, and the entire court that surrounded him during the golden years of Spanish basketball, came out of nowhere by spontaneous generation. Before, there were precedents that helped promote the sport and reach limits that, then, seemed mere chimeras. This is where the role of Epi comes in..
Who was Epi?
Epi is the affectionate diminutive of Juan Antonio San Epifanio, a basketball player born in Zaragoza on June 12, 1959.. However, his name will always be associated with Barça Basket, a section in which he is one of its greatest historical references. Not in vain, Epi is what is currently known as a one club man. That is to say, he developed his entire professional career in the Barça team, wearing a number 15 that no one can wear more in his honor.
Curiously The Aragonese player arrived at the Palau Blaugrana on the rebound, as part of the signing of his older brother, Herminio San Epifanio, for the culé team. History says that then, Real Madrid and Barcelona disputed his incorporation. As a decisive factor in your decision, He asked that his little brother be included with him. Barça accepted and the San Epifanio family moved to Barcelona. That happened in 1974 and Epi was 15 years old. Although he came from playing for Helios, then the reference club in Zaragoza basketball, Barça considered that he did not have sufficient level to play in their quarry. Therefore, He was loaned to Colegio Alpe, where he was recycled from a rather clumsy center to a shooting forward.. Five years later, in 1979, he joined the first Barcelona team.
The date is key, because Barça Basket became the hegemonic Spanish basketball team in the 1980s.. A time in which, in addition, there was the great boom of the sport of basket in Spain, even rivaling in terms of popularity with soccer, something unthinkable today. A perfect storm that made Súper Epi one of the best-known athletes in our country.
Epi’s honors in basketball
The total, Epi played 19 seasons for Barcelona. They were also some of the most successful years in the club’s history. In total, with the Barcelona shirt, The Aragonese forward won: 7 ACB Leagues, 10 Copa del Rey, 2 European Cup Winners’ Cups, 1 Korac Cup and 1 Club World Cupamong many other titles. Like everyone else at Barça, he had the regret of never having won the Euroleague. He competed in three finals of the top continental competition, however he could not finish. Not because of his lack of effort. For example, In 1984, he scored 31 points in the final against Banco di Roma, however the Catalans succumbed 73-79.
Furthermore, Epi was one of the most prominent members, if not to say the main star, of the Spanish national team who won the silver medal in Los Angeles 84. Until the emergence of Gasol and company, the most brilliant success in Spanish basketball. In total, Epi competed in four Olympic Games and won European silver in 1983 and continental bronze in 1991. He retired as the Spanish player with the most caps, with 239 matches. A mark that, yes, has already been broken by Rudy Fernández and Juan Carlos Navarro.
How Epi played
Epi was a shooting forward at a time when that figure was practically being invented. Or reinventing, if you will. Not in vain, it must be taken into account that The triple launch was implemented from 1984when the 15th of Barça had already had five seasons behind him. That completely changed the game and required a period of adaptation for everyone. Also for him, even though he was used to shooting from afar.
On the track, Epi was fundamentally a scorer. In fact, he holds the record for the most points scored in an ACB match. On February 18, 1984, in a 112-109 victory against Joventut, Epi finished the game with 54 points in your individual statistics. A mark that was also achieved without triples. “It was extraordinary and had two overtimes. I had a very successful day, with very good shooting percentages. I was very inspired, and I remember that I also scored the important baskets in the decisive moments. I have a very pleasant memory,” Epi himself recalled in statements made to the ACB.
