BAXI Manresa played a great game but ultimately lost to Baskonia
The Bages team, still affected by injuries, are pushing one of the league's greats to the limit. A team match and the debut of Duke Jr.
83 BAXI Manresa I Brooks 13, Ubal 9, Reyes 16, Knudsen 2 and Akobundu-Ehiogu 9; Duke Jr. 11, Bassas 15, Steinbergs, Paulicap and Oriola 8
88 Kosner Baskonia I Forrest 20, Villar 3, Radzevicius, Omoruyi 14 and Edwards 1; Diakite 9, Simmons 7, Luwawu-Cabarrot 27, Spagnolo 2, Frisch 3 and Joksimovic 2
Partials: 25-21, 16-23, 24-21, 18-23
BAXI Manresa fell at the Nou Congost against a Euroleague rival, Kosner Baskonia (83-88), in a duel that was decided in the last minute.
The players coached by Diego Ocampo got off to a great start, shooting accurately and controlling the boards, and quickly took control of the scoreboard. The home team built an eight-point lead (20-12), which the Basque team cut to four by the end of the first quarter (25-21).
In the second quarter, the home team maintained their lead for a significant portion of the game, until the visitors demonstrated their skill and managed to turn the game around, taking a five-point advantage (39-44). At halftime, a basket by Oriola made it 41-44.
Returning from the locker room, both teams traded runs. Manresa scored the first five points of the quarter, but the Vitoria team responded with a 0-10 run. Later, the Bages team responded with an 8-0 run, and the third quarter ended in a 65-65 tie.
In the final ten minutes, neither team could pull away, and everything came down to the last few possessions. Paolo Galbiati's team proved more accurate and secured another victory.
On Sunday, starting at 12:00 PM, BAXI Manresa will play another Catalan derby at the Nou Congost, this time against Asisa Joventut.