Towards the final phase

The victory against Lleida allows the senior team to enter the final as group leader

| Wednesday, 11 September 2019

The senior has qualified for the final phase of the LEB Catalan League after overcoming ICG Força Lleida in the Barris Nord pavilion. The players led by Àlex Formento never lost the advantage once they took it for the first time with a cheerful and decisive game. Success in triples was a differentiating factor (39.5% success) that magnified the good collective performance.

Despite this, the match would start with Lleida’s dominance in the result (partial 8-0) and in the game. Lleidatans hurt from the paint with an intimidating Shaquille O’Neal Cleare (24 rating). The senior would respond with two triples from Menno Dijkstra and Sergi Costa that reduced the distances and started the subsequent equalization. Two consecutive three-pointers from Sàbat (6/10 in three-pointers) sealed Girona’s first lead and Hester added another one, leaving the visitors with a difference in the first half (18-25).  

The tonic would remain in the second quarter and the senior offered a dynamic and fresh game that combined with the effectiveness in the shot. The team worked on the counter-attack and knew how to find free shots in a static attack. The good response in the opposing field continued in the own field, limiting the opponent’s intentions and causing him to make an error (30-51).  

At the restart, Girona maintained the advantage but Lleida responded by hitting inside and outside. Two three-pointers on Saturday restored the twenty-point advantage, with the contribution of Sevillano (13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists) in the internal game (52-68).  

In the last period, the match would pick up more pace and the senior gave dynamism to his game. The locals responded from the paint, the counterattack and the rebound. The men led by Jorge Serna reduced the disadvantage but saw how the visitors did not lower their arms (73-87).

*Statements by Àlex Formento

“Following the line of the result, my reading is very positive. I’m happy because we overcame the initial hurdle, a complicated challenge considering a rival of the Lleida club. The team was able to return to the game and focus on the job, which is what we came to do”

“There are days when you get everything and there are others when you get nothing. We are in the pre-season phase and the ratings are less solid. I am sure that Lleida will have a great season in LEB Or”