The first big blow of the course, for MoraBanc Andorra
After an overwhelming start to the game (15-0) with which to launch the first message of the night, MoraBanc Andorra had to work hard to reinforce its leadership against an ICG Força Lleida that recovered with the passing of the minutes, but that he could do little in the face of the foreign success and the great choral game of the Andorrans. In this way, Natxo Lezkano’s men became strong in first place, taking advantage of the defeat by Movistar Estudiantes, remaining as leader together with a highly effective Zunder Palencia on their visit to Torrelavega
Important changes at the top of the qualifying table with MoraBanc Andorra gaining strength in first place after beating ICG Força Lleida on their court and after the defeat of Movistar Estudiantes in Alicante. A duel with which Natxo Lezkano’s men were once again left alone at the top together with a Zunder Palencia who knew how to impose his law in Cantabrian lands with the valuable support of his fans.
It was clear that the Poliesportiu of Andorra was going to host the great match of the day and the game did not disappoint. A clash that kept the emotion going until the end despite the fact that MoraBanc Andorra had stormed onto the court very strongly with a 15-0 run seasoned by a stratospheric three-pointer from Johnny Dee from beyond 8 meters (WATCH VIDEO). It seemed that the match was going to have a clear Andorran color, but as usual, ICG Força Lleida did not take long to react, launching their first warnings with two accurate triples by Álex Urtasun (WATCH VIDEO). Two baskets with which to lay the foundations for the fight for a comeback that suffered its first setback with the double technique against Gerard Encuentra who left the game 3 minutes from the break. A fact that did not bother Johnny Dee in the slightest who followed his business before reaching the changing rooms (WATCH VIDEO).
It was with the resumption of the game that ICG Força Lleida suffered their best minutes of the night, with a 12-29 run with which they seriously worried a MoraBanc Andorra team that was beginning to rush into attack. The visitors were growing and that translated into a double blow from the outside line by Lobo and Santana with which the differences were reduced to below ten. Things got complicated, but those from the Principality knew how to find Jhonny Dee once again who scored his sixth goal to finish leaving the victory at home to a leader who thus gained solidity (WATCH VIDEO) (90-75).
Although the second good news of the night for those from Lezkano was going to arrive minutes later from Alicante where Rafa Monclova’s team was going to wink at the leader. Because HLA Alicante was able to break the winning streak of Movistar Estudiantes by decanting in their favor a match in which equality was the prevailing keynote during the 40 minutes. A clash in which the direction of Aegir Steinarson was fundamental for the locals, carrying out an important work of wear and tear on the people of Madrid to lose steam as the minutes passed. Despite this, Javi Rodríguez’ men had “match point” with 4″ to go, but the shot was annulled for stepping on the sideline (WATCH VIDEO). HLA Alicante did not fail with the final free throws and, with it, the victory stayed at home (89-85).
Friday night was completed with the victory in the Ciutat de un Hereda San Pablo Burgos after a match in which both teams went through several peaks and phases. First with TAU Castelló assuming the first reins, then with Hereda San Pablo Burgos he returned to the scoreboard and, a little later, with Rasid Mahalbasic shining in the paint (WATCH VIDEO) to put his team 15 points up (43-58). It was at that precise moment when the locals offered a total makeover to seal a 16-5 run with which I will fully immerse myself in the fight for victory, especially when David Hook scored an impossible three-pointer from the corner 15″ from final (WATCH VIDEO). But by then, the lack of time was already the worst enemy of Juan Orenga’s men, seeing how the victory ended up falling into the hands of a rival who thus celebrated the fifth consecutive (65-67).
On Saturday the day began with the victory of CB Almansa with Afanion against Melilla Sport Capital (70-64), which manages to equalize its rival in the qualifying table. Great game for the young Mateo Díaz, with 19 points and a brutal second period in defense for the La Mancha side, who left his rival with just 19 points in 20 minutes of play. In Pisuerga, UEMC Real Valladolid returned to winning ways after beating Club Ourense Baloncesto with a new recital by Jan Pantzar. The Swedish international point guard is in great form and is capable of scoring not only in penetrations but also from long distance (3/4 for the point guard).
In Albacete a very even clash was played, locked and with few points and possessions. In this scenario, Cáceres, a World Heritage Site, was more comfortable, taking a small advantage in the first quarter, and knew how to push in the final minutes to win against a direct rival. A really important match in the face of the fight for permanence in which Extremadura take the lead against a rival who was able to prevent the differences from becoming more in the face of a future average (60-64).
Finally, Zunder Palencia was able to emerge victorious from a Vicente Trueba in which no other team had been able to win to date. A clash to which the people from Palencia arrived accompanied by a good number of fans from Palencia who went when it was time to be able to assume the first income of the match (10-17). A whole staging perfectly scripted by Zunder Palencia and that caused David Mangas’ men to enter some insecurities that they could not correct already during the final stretch of the first part. The Alega Group improved in defense after the break with the support of the local parish, but the solidity of a co-leader led by the imperial Chumi Ortega prevented the home team from getting into a game that they did not end up losing face. And that Walter Jr. tried his hand at 5 minutes from the end, fueling a dream that faded when Kostadinov killed the game with a spectacular dunk (WATCH VIDEO). In this way, Pedro Rivero emerged victorious from the track where he began his career as a player two decades ago to keep his team at the top of the table (66-77).
Although one of the most outstanding matches came on Sunday morning where Alimerka Oviedo broke its first big sigh of the course. A duel in which Trifon Poch’s men took the sting out of their first victory against a prestigious rival like Leyma Coruña. And that it had been their rival who had started the game in command in a first quarter in which the people from A Coruña scored 29 points, but in which the people from Oviedo were able to hold the scoring pulse so that the disadvantage was minimal. The passing of the minutes gave confidence to a team in which the experience of Oli Arteaga began to weigh with honorable mention for a third quarter in which the local points (29) did a lot of damage to those of DIego Epifanio. With this inertia, Alimerka Oviedo became strong to close the clash in a last period of relief in Pumarín (93-83).
The day was completed from San Sebastián with a Basque derby of a solidarity nature and in which Guuk Gipuzkoa did not give Juaristi ISB an option to continue their good moment of form. A team that had begun a trail against the Azpeitiarras throughout the first quarter, but was able to raise their scoring excellence in a second quarter in which they found a couple more gears than their rival. Thus, the game was channeled for their interests on a night in which Odriozola’s men were able to rebuild after the break before giving up definitively in the final stretch of the game (85-76).
LEB GOLD – DAY 8:
Friday November 25:
– MoraBanc Andorra vs. ICG Força Lleida (90-75) | MVP: A. Urtasun – 23 val.
– TAU Castellón vs Hereda San Pablo Burgos (65-67) | MVP: F. Stutz – 22 val.
– HLA Alicante vs Movistar Estudiantes (89-85) | MVP: A. Steinarson – 30 val.
Saturday November 26:
– CB Almansa with Afanion vs Melilla Sport Capital (70-64) | MVP: M Diaz – 20 val.
– UEMC Real Valladolid vs Ourense Basketball (86-76) | MVP: J Pantzar – 26 val.
– Bueno Arenas Albacete vs Cáceres P. Humanity (60-64) | MVP: I Aurrecoechea – 15 val
– Alega Cantabria Group vs Zunder Palencia (66-77) | MVP: C: Ortega – 29 val.
Sunday November 27:
– Alimerka Oviedo vs. Leyma Coruña (93-83) | MVP: O. Arteaga – 19 val.
– Guuk Gipuzkoa Basket vs Juaristi ISB (85-76) | MVP: N. Hoover – 24 val.
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