BAXI Manresa 2022-23 opens the pre-season in Sant Julià
The Manresa team, with the loss of five players, played an even match. In the final minutes, Bortolani and Harding overturned Girona's lead and put the score in their favor in front of the support and joy of the Bages fans.
73 BAXI Manresa I Dani Pérez 5, Harding 15, Sagnia 2, Tyson Pérez 9 and Olumuyiwa 7; Bortolani 10, Dani Garcia 5, Naspler 5, Steinbergs 7 and Lee 8
72 Bàsquet Girona I Taylor 12, Figueras 4, Molins 7, Vila 13 and Gasol 12; Díaz, Colom 4, Miletic 8, Torres, Franch 3, Hanzlik 5 and Sorolla 4
Partials: 20-16, 20-18, 15-20, 18-18
The fans of BAXI Manresa were really looking forward to seeing the 2022-2023 team in action. They filled the Sant Julià de Vilatorta municipal pavilion to capacity and were able to celebrate the first victory of the pre-season in a very close match against Bàsquet Girona, a team newly arrived in the Endesa League (73-72). The Bages team, who had the casualties of Valtonen, Vaulet, Badio (concentrated with their national teams), Hamilton and Jou, were ahead for a large part of the match. However, it was Girona who came out on top in a final in which Bortolani and Harding were decisive in the comeback.
Pedro Martínez's players made a better start and, thanks to five consecutive points from Tyson Pérez, obtained the first incomes in the electronic. However, Girona reacted immediately and equalized. Then, the reds regained control and took a maximum lead of seven points (14-7). Two 3-pointers and a basket under the ring put Girona ahead, but only for eighteen seconds, as Harding, with a basket and a 3-pointer, made it 20-16 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second, Harding was still in a state of grace and led some Bages team who was still in front on the scoreboard against an opponent who remained at short distances at all times. A basket by Olumuyiwa at the edge put the Manresa team within six points at the break (40-34).
Returning from the changing rooms, BAXI Manresa reached a margin of eight points (46-38), but a partial 0-9 caused Girona to turn the duel upside down. From there there were alternatives in the electronic, which at the end of the third quarter reflected a very tight 55-54.
In the last ten minutes, Aíto García Reneses' men took the lead, and reached the final 120 seconds five points ahead after a Marc Gasol basket. Then two of the Reds' additions appeared: Bortolani hit a 3-pointer, Harding a two-plus-one that turned the score around and again the Italian was decisive with a block as Girona's last-ditch attack came to nothing.
BAXI Manresa's next pre-season engagement will be in the Balearic Islands, on Saturday 10 September at 20:30 in Mahon against Hestia Menorca, in the semi-final of the Ciutat de Mahon tournament.