MADRID, 23 Abr. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Bidaideak Bilbao beat Amiab Albacete (72-80) this Sunday in the Copa del Rey wheelchair basketball final, a tournament held at the Miguel Guillén Prim Pavilion in Madrid, with a great last quarter led by Giulio Maria Papi .
The Italian, who signed 34 points in the semifinals, was again key in the grand final with another 32 that led the Basque side to their second Cup in a row. The champion became strong against an Amiab that had just lost one game all season, but was trailed by a spectacular last quarter from Bidaideak.
Like last year, the champion of the Division of Honor missed the national double, on the eve of trying to reissue his European crown. The team from La Mancha overwhelmed Madrid in both the quarterfinals and the semifinals, while the people from Bilbao came from suffering, especially winning CD Ilunion by one in the semifinals.
His sangfroid against the people of Madrid was a plus for a Bidaideak who couldn’t bear the pressure in the final. Amiab Albacete started failing from the outside, while Adrián Yáñez’s men put up their first income (11-17). The people from La Mancha carried that tonic in tow throughout the final, also in the second quarter (29-39).
Despite going 12 down during the restart, a basket by Manning and another by Prat left the score at 54-55 at the end of the third quarter. With the title open, Bidaideak returned to charge without fail in attack with Papi, in a want and I can’t for Amiab again in the Cup, although the defense of the European throne awaits.
Third place had been left shortly before by CD Ilunion, which beat UCAM Murcia 71-77 in the fight for bronze.