A combative BAXI Manresa falls fighting in Ljubljana
A poor early run condemned Diego Ocampo's team to a trailing edge throughout the match. The Manresa side came close but were unable to complete the comeback. Golden, Benítez, and Reyes lead the scoring.
76 Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana I Nikolic 17, Blazic 6, Stewart 9, Chougkaz 10 and Kennedy 10; Gibson 5, Girard 9, Radovic 6, Houindo, Cerkvenik and Skara 4
69 BAXI Manresa I Benitez 10, Plummer, Knudsen, Steinbergs 8 and Akobundu-Ehiogu; Reyes 16, Ubal 2, Olinde 11, Obasohan 5, Golden 10, Izaw-Bolavie 2 and Dani Pérez 5
Partials: 29-18, 13-9, 19-22, 15-20
BAXI Manresa could not start the Euroocup with victory, since they fell on the complicated court of the Slovenian Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (76-69).
The home team got off to a great start, scoring the first eleven points of the game. Diego Ocampo stopped the game, but the situation didn't change much, as the Slovenians continued to dominate clearly until the end of the first quarter, where they held an eleven-point margin (29-18).
In the second quarter, both teams were scoring less, and this situation favored Cedevita, who, despite not being as accurate, were able to extend their lead and reach the halfway point by fifteen points (42-27).
Coming out of the locker room, the home team again made a strong start and reached a maximum lead of 21 points (48-27). Bages subsequently reacted, but at the end of the third quarter, they were still quite far behind their opponents on the scoreboard (61-49).
In the final ten minutes, the combative visitors were able to get back into the game and fell just five points behind (69-64). However, it was too late, as the Slovenians didn't let up and claimed their first Eurocup victory of the season.
On Saturday, starting at 8:00 PM, BAXI Manresa will kick off the Endesa League on the tricky court of La Laguna Tenerife.