Valuable triumph

A partial score of 19-30 in the third period gave the second consecutive victory in Basketball Girona at the Estela Cantabria court

| Sunday, 28 April 2019

Basketball Girona defeated Igualatorio Cantabria Estela (74 – 81) for the second time in this phase thanks to a magnificent second half from the entire team. Trias acted as a leader and signed a triple-double (10 points, 12 rebounds, 13 assists and 31 ratings) to keep alive the play-off options for promotion to LEB Or.

The first period was a constant exchange of baskets due to the great success on the part of both sets. However, in the last 3 minutes, the locals opened a small gap in the electronic thanks to 2 triples by Sutina and the eight points in the paint by Nakidjim (26 – 18 minute 10).

In the second quarter, the Girona team came out more aggressive and, taking advantage of Nakidjim’s absence, Berry dominated the ring by scoring seven consecutive points in less than two minutes (26 – 25 minute 11). Estela, however, slowly regained control of the game, and the defensive improvement allowed the Cantabrian team to extend the difference to eight points again (40 – 32 minute 28). Despite going behind, Básquet Girona tied the match again,  but a three-pointer in the last second by Juan Pablo Sutina gave the team coached by David Mangas a slight advantage just before the break (43 – 40 minute 20).

At the restart, it seemed that the tone of the first twenty minutes would continue, as Norris and Nakidjim were still unstoppable and the locals were hiding again in an escape attempt (52 – 44 minute 22). However, in the last five minutes, the team of Àlex Formento passed like a cyclone for the Palacio de los Deportes de Santander . Up to six players from Girona scored in a period (10 – 26) which served to put them ahead on the scoreboard for the first time in the entire match, and face the last quarter with a certain margin in the electronic (62 – 70 minute 30).

The Girona players, aware that they had to finish the job, took the reins of the match and, deploying a good collective game, achieved the maximum income of the match (68 – 80 minute 36). In the final minutes, Estela made one last attempt to regroup (74 – 80 minute 39) but the Girona team did not let themselves be surprised and won their second consecutive victory.

The next game of Basketball Girona will be on Saturday, April 4 at 8:00 p.m. against Aquimisa Laboratorios-Queso Zamorano in Fontajau.

*Alex Formento assessment:

“In the first half it was difficult for us to interpret how we had to make defensive adjustments towards their main players, but in the second half we solved it and had the necessary patience to find the best shooting options .”

” We have been very united defensively and this has allowed us to achieve a collective victory .”