Baskonia take La Fonteta to start
The Basque team wins the debut of the Euroleague against a Valencia from more to less
MADRID, 6 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Cazoo Baskonia won (71-81) this Thursday over Valencia Basket at the start of the Euroleague for both, a Spanish duel on the first day that was falling little by little on the Basque side and that showed two teams under construction with many faces new.
The start of the European competition left the triumphant debut of a Baskonia that last year won the three times it visited Valencia. The local team was erratic and, despite a couple of good partials in the first half, they were giving up the leading role and the scoreboard against Joan Peñarroya’s team.
The former ‘taronja’ coach emerged victorious from what was his home last year thanks to the tremendous performance of Maik Kotsar (21 points and 9 rebounds), who took on extra responsibility with Enoch’s injury in the warm-up prior to match.
The Estonian, one of the novelties this season for the Basques, went into the break with 15 points and was once again decisive in the last quarter. Darius Thompson (8 points and 11 assists) also played at will at times and Rokas Giedraitis sentenced the match with his triples in the last quarter.
Álex Mumbrú’s new Valencia, who had two wins out of two games in the Endesa League, was thick and didn’t know how to prolong the good times he enjoyed. Thus, the initial 10-3 lasted the blink of an eye. With good defense and a successful Radebaugh, the local team went back to 31-22 in the second quarter.
Prepelic and Rivero gave arguments to the ‘taronja’, but Kotsar threw Valencia’s work to the ground alone (33-39). Those from Vitoria took command for the second half and did not let go. The aiming problem, starting with the free throw, was already taking its toll on Mumbrú’s men, despite another spark from Radebaugh (33-41) without finding more weapons.
Baskonia kept their advantage and in the last quarter they returned to their formula for success: Kotsar and Thompson. In addition, the success of Giedraitis left an even placid end for the Basques, with a certain impotence of a Valencia that did not know how to make his new team work this time. The challenge for both is to be in the ‘playoffs’ and the first victory already has Baskonia de Peñarroya.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: VALENCIA BASKET, 71 – CAZOO BASKONIA, 81. (33-39, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT.
VALENCIA BASKET: Van Rossom (5), Prepelic (12), James Webb III (3), Claver (3) and Alexander (4) –starting quintet– Jones (5), Dubljevic (-), Pradilla, López- Arostegi (-), Rivero (14), Harper (10), Puerto (5), Radebaugh (10).
CAZOO BASCONY: Howard (12), Thompson (8), Giedraitis (19), Hommes (8) and Kotsar (21) — starting quintet– Costello (3), Marinkovic (5), Sedekerskis (5), Diez (5). -), Crosses (-).
–PARTIALS: 21-19, 12-20, 22-20, 15-22.
–REFEREES: Ryzhyk, Belosevic and Koromilas. Without eliminated.
— PAVILION: La Fonteta.