Defeat in Melilla

The team falls in overtime in a very balanced second period

| Sunday, 04 April 2021

The game started with great intensity on the part of both teams, with the figure of Davis Rozitis being the highlight of the first part of the quarter, in which he scored 8 points and 4 rebounds in six minutes of play. The rival did not give up, but Bàsquet Girona was able to distance itself on the scoreboard thanks to a 1-13 run in the last minutes of the quarter thanks to Olaf Schaftenaar with a triple and a 3+1, and Pep Busquets with a triple in the last second of possession (15-25).

The second period began with a very high scoring rate by Melilla, who scored 12 points in the first four minutes. In the following measures of the game, the home team continued with a good rhythm and allowed to shorten the score to just two points. The game continued as expected, the two teams exchanged baskets, in which Albert Sàbat took the opportunity to connect with Davis Rozitis to climb up to 12 points in the first half. Melilla maintained its defensive toughness and left Bàsquet Girona with only 15 points in the second quarter (39-40).

In the second half, Bàsquet Girona came out very explosive, with two consecutive baskets within a few seconds of the game. After three minutes of the second quarter, Melilla managed to get ahead for the second time during the match, something that had only happened in the initial 2-0. The game continued very intense, with an exchange of baskets by the two teams. BiramFaye’s intensity in defense and the team’s counter-attack allowed Pep Busquets to score with two minutes to go at the end of the quarter. The period ended with a three-point lead in favor of the team from Girona (63-66).

The last quarter began with a great team game from Bàsquet Girona, in which all the players contributed to the scoring. Melilla, however, did not stay behind and kept scoring to keep up with the electronica, which with 5 minutes to go was tied at 72. MathieuKamba, with 2 triples practically in a row, made it 80-76 with only two minutes left in the game. Girona Basketball reacted with a three-pointer from the board by Albert Sàbat. The last moments of the game were marked by a very good defense from Melilla, but Pep Busquets scored a triple in the last seconds to tie the game at 83 and force extra time.

Extra time remained even as most of the game. Olaf Schaftenaar hit a three-pointer to give Bàsquet Girona some air, but Wintering responded with two consecutive three-pointers to put a +4 on the scoreboard. In the last possession, Pepo Barral tried a three-pointer to win the game but it didn’t go in and Melilla took the victory (95-93).

Statements by Carlos:

“In the beginning it hurt us in something that we have been working on for many months and that we are sometimes better and sometimes worse, like the first ten minutes: rebounding. They scored seven points on offensive rebounding and they stuck in the game when we were playing really well in attack.”

“During the other quarters and extra time we were at a very good level. We looked for the best options and defended well. They had very incisive players in the 1×1 and they found the talent. Kamba and Wintering are players with good records and they were right.”