Albacete weather Castello storm to climb back to Primera FEB

Bueno Arenas Albacete reclaimed their place in the Primera FEB on Sunday, surviving a hostile Ciutat de Castello to beat Amics Castelló 68-66 and complete the season's promotion picture three years after losing the category.
Coach David Varela's side became the third and final team to earn promotion to Spain's second tier, following Coto Cordoba and Insolac Caja 87 the latter having sealed their spot just the night before.
Backed by several dozen travelling fans against a home crowd of nearly 4,000, the Manchegos endured a difficult start. Castelló's first three three-pointers, combined with strong work on the glass, helped the hosts open a seven-point lead at 21-14. But Bueno Arenas showed their best after the first break, tightening their defense and choking off the rim holding coach Jose Luis Pichel's side to just eight points in the second quarter to retake the lead at 35-29.
From there, Amics Castello were left rowing against the current. Joan Faner (176-PG-1990) and Roger Fabrega (186-G-2005) refused to yield from the backcourt, and the hosts clawed their way back to within touching distance in the closing stages even holding a two-point edge late and getting a couple of possessions in the final minute to try to overturn the aggregate deficit. But Bueno Arenas' defensive resilience surfaced once more to kill the game and certify their return to the Primera FEB with a +8 aggregate margin across the series. Nick Reid (201-F-2002, college: Upper Iowa) led Albacete with 11 points.
The promotion completes a remarkable redemption for Albacete, who had dropped out of the category three seasons ago.