February 14 to 16 , was The venue for one of the most important water polo events in Spain. After 12 years, it hosted a major national competition at its facilities: the 39th Men’s Water Polo King’s Cup.
The host club started as favorites and didn’t disappoint. They comfortably won all three matches. They beat CE Mediterráneo (22-4) in the quarterfinals, Solartradex Mataró (17-7) in the semifinals , and Keio Sabadell (5-14) in the final , their eternal rival in recent years.
The sailor team lifted a new title, maintaining its hegemony and adding its 21st Copa del Rey to its extraordinary list of honors. One of the most special titles, as they were able to win it surrounded by their fans. In addition, he also won two individual awards. Bernat Sanahuja received the award for best player and Unai Aguirre, best goalkeeper.
The finishing touch was provided by the luxury godmother of the CNAB. A neighbor of our neighborhood , Loles León showed , as always, her best humor and proudly wore the colors of the Champion Club. She was in charge of serving of honor in the final and had the privilege of collecting the Champions Cup with the team.
But beyond the competition itself, Atlético-Barceloneta wanted to celebrate water polo by making the Copa del Rey, for the first time in its history, a grand spectacle. They invited all water polo fans to enjoy the experience in the most intense and comprehensive way possible.
The starting point was the official presentation and the drawing, eschewing the traditional format and taking a highly innovative and original approach. Officials, clubs, sponsors, and media were summoned on February 7th at the Barcelona Aquarium. No one could have imagined that the draw would be cast in the shark tank. Amidst the balls falling to the seabed and the multitude of fish, two divers acted as innocent hands, with the sharks as direct witnesses, creating some very amusing scenes. A fabulous staging that became a turning point in sports draws held until now.
A week later, the big competition, taking center stage arrived,. The Club designed a packed program of activities throughout the weekend to make the Cup a great party. Magnificent performances in the pool included DJs, percussionists, entertainers, and an incredible light show. There was also a very exciting moment with the national synchronized swimming team’s exhibition, which captivated the entire audience with a wonderful performance.
And, to top it all off, an interactive fan zone was created in their recently renovated and expanded beach bar, with an impressive design. A giant screen allowed you to watch the matches live, and it served as a meeting point for different fans to meet the athletes and take photos. There was also a caricaturist to give you a fun personalized souvenir, a 360º spin to record a funny video of your experience, and the not-so- classic quick photo to immortalize the moment with friends.
The CNAB family is very proud of the sporting and organizational success achieved. This success has been made possible thanks to the members, staff, fans, athletes of all levels, volunteers, and sponsors.
In short, an unforgettable Copa del Rey.
