epic victory

Senior wins fifth straight game on final possession

| Sunday, 13 October 2019

Básquet Girona has sealed its fifth consecutive victory in an epic final. Àlex Formento’s men are still unbeaten after a game script with constant back and forth. A basket by Gerard Sevillano with six seconds left gave Fontajau its third win.

The match began with three triples, two from Girona and one from the Canaries, which would end up being the prelude to a first quarter with both inspired teams facing the basket (12-10, 4′). The tie remained in the next few minutes, with the senior maintaining a slight advantage from the defense and the triple (26-22).

In the second period, the Canarian side rallied from the paint and managed to get ahead  on the scoreboard (30-31, 13′). Then, the men led by Àlex Formento regained their defensive solidity to gain stability in the game and the advantage, reaching the maximum of nine points (45-36, 17′). The influence of Albert Sàbat in the direction (15 points, 4 assists and 5 fouls received) and Antonio Hester (15 points, 7 rebounds and 24 rating) in the interior activity have become keys to reach the break above 50 points (55-43).

The rematch started with a triple from Saturday that placed +15. The visiting team would grow as the minutes went by becoming stronger in the triple, reducing the deficit to seven points (65-58, 26′). The Canary team has been gaining solidity in defense while scoring both statically and on the counter-attack, reducing the difference to four points (69-65, 28′). A triple by Menno Dijkstra in the last home possession calmed Girona’s spirits (74-67).

In the last ten minutes, the senior was intense in defense and decisive in the offensive transition (83-71, 35′). A partial 0-12, with two three-pointers, cut dry the positive dynamic and restored the tie with four minutes left. In the final minutes, the senior maintained his position against an opponent who was still successful in the outside shot. An extraordinary play by Gerard Sevillano put the locals ahead with six seconds remaining after a three-pointer that had given the visitors a 91-90 lead. In the last defense, Básquet Girona would be great and the result would not change.    

*Statements by Alex Formento

“First of all, I want to congratulate Gran Canaria B for its extraordinary squad. I also want to highlight the extraordinary work of my players and the support of all the people who came to Fontajau, especially in this close final.”

“We were prepared for this match script. We knew that maintaining this pace of play for so many games was not easy at all and at some point we would have some lapses in focus. In this line I am satisfied because we have never lost face in the game. In the third quarter we had a fantastic staging because in the first half we were inspired in attack but we lacked forcefulness in defence.

“It was a game with a lot of possession, back and forth and an accentuated physical demand. In the second half, when we felt better, there was a moment when we could have decided the game and we didn’t. Then, the situation became adverse and the opponent, despite his youth, played with extraordinary maturity. Here I want to emphasize once again the role of my players, who have been able to keep calm in the storm and be effective to bring us the victory”   

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Photo: Sergi Geronès