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Juan Antonio San Epifanio Ruiz (Epi) (born 12 June 1959 in Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain) is a retired Spanish basketball player, considered one of the greatest Small forwards ever to play in Europe, and who played all his career in FC Barcelona.
[edit] Brief Introduction
The Aragonese is one of the Spanish players with most caps (239 during more than 15 years). The only Spanish player who have played in 4 Olympic Games (Moscow-80 to Barcelona-92). Silver Olympic medallist for Spain in LA-84 silver medal in European Champs in Nantes-83. In 1991, he got European bronze National Temas. With F.C. Barcelona, he was 3 times finalist in European Champions Cup, 2 times Cup Winners champions, 1 Korac Cup champion, 6 times league and 10 cup champion. It is remembered his 54 ptos scoring match against Joventut on early 80’s (with overtime), the 2nd best ever in Spanish League. Ranko Žeravica, was who gave him the opportunity to play for first team of Barcelona in 1979. In 1973 he made his debut with CN Helios (in 3rd Division). He was nominated by L’Equipe European Best Player of the 80’s.
[edit] Early life
San Epifanio, known by everyone as Epi, grew up in Zaragoza and began to play in his native city, but the local club C.N. Helios Zaragoza rejected him. In 1974 FC Barcelona signed his older brother Herminio to a contract. Herminio insisted that Juan would join him at the club, and so the two moved to Barcelona.
[edit] FC Barcelona for life
At Barcelona, Juan quickly improved his skills and became a member of the Spanish junior national team.
In 1977 he joined the first team and quickly became the leading man in barcelona's successful team of the 80's, which finally broke the long lived dominance of Real Madrid after a prolonged period, together with players such as Ignacio Solozábal, Juan de la Cruz, Audie Norris and others.
In a total of 18 seasons at the club he won the Spanish league title 7 times (1981, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, and 1994), the King's Cup 10 times (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1988, 1991, and 1994), the Saporta Cup twice (1985-1986), the Korac Cup once (1987) and the world championship for clubs once (1985). Although he reached the European Champions Cup Final 3 time (1984, 1990, 1991), he never lifted the most important trophy in European basketball.
[edit] Spanish national team
In the same year he debuted with FC Barcelona, he also made his first appearance for the national team. He appeared in a total of 239 games, giving him the all-time lead in national appearances for Spain.
[edit] Retirement
San Epifanio's last game was the last game of the season in 1995, in which FC Barcelona won another Spanish title, on 25 May 1995.
As of 2007 he is a basketball commentator with Canal+ Spain.
[edit] External links
Spain
