The Ovni will host the Asobal play-off this weekend

The Sagunto Town Hall's plenary chamber hosted a press conference this morning ahead of Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto's Asobal promotion play-off, which will take place this weekend at the municipal inter-district sports pavilion (known as the OVNI). On 8 and 9 June, the city will host a major event in which the red-and-white side will compete against three other teams to return to the top tier of Spanish handball. If the home team are promoted, the celebration will take place on Sunday at 7 pm at Triángulo Umbral.

Those attending the press conference were the acting mayor of Sagunto, Quico Fernández; the acting councillor for Sport, Miguel Chover; the president of Club Balonmano Puerto Sagunto, Juanjo Bataller; the president of the Valencian Community Handball Federation (FBMCV), Pedro Fuertes; and the FBMCV general manager, Miguel Ángel Valero.

The play-off will be held over two days. The semi-finals will take place on Saturday 8 June, with Fertiberia playing the fourth-placed team in the league, MMT Seguros Zamora, at 6 pm. At 8 pm, the third- and fourth-placed teams, Balonmano Alarcos Ciudad Real and Torrelavega, will fight for a place in the final. Of these four teams, the two winners will face each other on Sunday at 6 pm for the only available place back in Asobal.

Quico Fernández stated that “it has been an especially satisfying season because having the opportunity to return to the top tier is something that generates great excitement, a desire to do well again and to represent the city at the highest level. Both the club, the council, the federation and the city are united in achieving this, which is why we supported holding this promotion phase here. For us, handball has a special significance; it is the city's flagship sport. Although there are many other sports, handball has always achieved its goals and has always stood out in both the men's and women's game.”

For his part, Miguel Chover assured them that “it is a privilege to have you here, and hopefully you can return on Monday; that will mean we have achieved the dream that was cut short a year ago. Thanks fundamentally to your efforts and those of the coaching staff, we are once again in contention to return to Asobal, where we deserve to be because of our fans, enthusiasm and determination, and I hope that will once again be the case.”

Chover also added that “it is a luxury for Sagunto to host this phase and for the club to have the whole tide of supporters and the pavilion cheering you on and helping you find strength. I am sure we will be promoted again. I know this is sport and a thousand things can happen, but seeing how you train and play, and the enthusiasm everyone in the town has to return to Asobal, there is no one who can stop us. I wish you all the best. You know that all we can and will do is cheer you on, support you and applaud you, but ultimately I am convinced that you will give everything to ensure Fertiberia Puerto Sagunto return to Asobal and that we once again have the best handball in Spain here.”

The president of Club Balonmano Puerto Sagunto explained the problems caused by the pavilion's limited capacity in meeting demand for tickets: “There are many people who want to come, and this is causing problems, especially for those from outside the area. Ultimately, the venue cannot accommodate any more people and, for safety reasons, the tickets going on sale are those we have available,” Bataller explained.

A total of 65 tickets will go on sale and will be available at the box office from 5 pm on Saturday. It is important to note that a maximum of two tickets may be obtained per person, subject to prior identification. The pavilion's total capacity is 1,100 people, and a complete sell-out is expected for the weekend.

“On the other hand, we know that not a single room remains available in the municipality's hotels; in fact, we have had to accommodate one team in other towns. The success of the event and the influx of tourists are guaranteed,” Juanjo Bataller highlights, adding that “these days have involved more than 50 people working on the organisation, and there are also 39 accredited journalists covering the event. For a minority sport, the level of involvement is tremendous, especially considering that no publicity has been undertaken because of the limited number of tickets. Finally, I would like to say that the doors will be open to supporters from 4.15 pm and, if we win and are promoted, the celebration will take place on Sunday at 7 pm at Triángulo Umbral.”

The president of the FBMCV wished to thank the council, as well as the club and the team, “for allowing us the opportunity to experience another dream: having two teams in Asobal once again. The truth is that this promotion phase is very difficult—we all know that—but the organisation has been running perfectly so far. Therefore, all that remains is to wait and enjoy the spectacle, for the squads to focus on playing and for luck to be on our side.”

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.