The young talents, who are in their first year at the Manresa club, earned their ticket after an agonizing preliminary phase. Navarro trained for seven years at Club Natació Sabadell, while Rodríguez started at Escola Pia and had a brief stint at BQ Vallès. Both highlight the warm welcome they received in Manresa.
“"We could only laugh, cry, and jump for joy when we achieved the victory. It was very emotional."
The qualification was decided in the last game against Joventut de Badalona (La Penya), following a heavy defeat against Gran Canaria (99-49) and previous victories against San Pablo Burgos and Lleida. Despite the pressure, the team finally won 93-87, securing their place among the top eight.
Both players define themselves as low-profile, focused on defense and constant work. Navarro stated he needs to “step out of my comfort zone to continue growing,” while Rodríguez emphasized his defensive strength and ability to take necessary shots without overdoing it.
In the final phase of the Minicopa, Bàsquet Manresa will face formidable opponents such as Barça, Real Madrid, Valencia Basket, Fundación CB Canarias, Gran Canaria, Casademont Zaragoza, and Unicaja. The goal for the young Sabadell players is to “compete to the maximum and try to qualify” for the tournament semifinals.
