Suffered triumph

Basketball Girona wins the Catalan derby at Torrons Vicens CB L'Hospitalet (75-77) in a game decided in the last minute

| Sunday, 30 December 2018

The team coached by Quim Costa managed to add the sixth victory in a row thanks to the partial first quarter (14 – 29), and knowing how to play with a cool head in the last period. Xavi Costa (18 rating) and Alzamora (9 points, 8 rebounds and 13 rating) the best of the Girona team.

Básquet Girona came out very focused and successful at the start of the match. A triple by Nil Angelats made it 0-14 on the scoreboard when only three minutes had been played and forced L’Hospitalet to stop time. Although the locals returned to the track more focused, the Girona continued to see the ring with ease. A two plus one from Alzamora and a free kick converted by Bolton gave the visitors the maximum advantage (10 – 27), although the hospital team reduced the difference before the end of the quarter.

In the second act, José Manuel Hoya’s team came out ready to get closer to the scoreboard. The intensity increased with an aggressive defense that did not let Girona have easy shooting options or ball circulation. In addition, the appearance of the Georgian pivot Shota Gelazonia – nine points this quarter – helped to cut the difference for a Hospi, who managed to tie the game with a triple by Edgar San Epifanio on the edge of the break (40 – 40) .

At the restart, there was an exchange of blows between both teams – the scoreboard changed hands five times – until Ivan Garcia appeared. The local power forward scored eleven consecutive points (including three triples) in four minutes to leave his team three points ahead before the final period (59 – 56).

The last ten minutes were of high tension and the game was wide open. Gelazonia continued to hurt the paint (eleven points this quarter) but Alzamora’s craft (six points) countered him. It entered the last minute with a two-point advantage for Hospitalet (72-70) but a triple key by Xavi Costa 47 seconds from the end, plus the cool blood in the free throws by Trias and Alzamora gave the sixth consecutive win at Basketball Girona.

With this win, the Girona side finish the year in fifth place (10-5) but one win behind leaders Real Murcia. The next match will be on Friday, January 4 in Fontajau (8:30 p.m.) against Aceitunas Fragata Morón.

*Quim Costa rating:

“Despite the good start to the game, we stopped defending and they tied us at half-time. In the second half the game was very even but we were good at key moments in the last quarter and that allowed us to win”.

“It was a challenge to try to win at L’Hospitalet, as we had previously lost both games against them this year. From the beginning of the season to now we have been improving and we are becoming more consistent, this was reflected today”.

Statistics

Photo: Sergi Geronès