This victory of the ‘pio-pio’ team and that of Joventut against Lleida clarified the path to the Copa del Rey
MADRID, 27 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia Basket, leader of the Endesa League, has fallen 97-94 in its visit to Dreamland Gran Canaria, within a matchday 13 that this Friday also saw Joventut Badalona triumph 92-72 against Hiopos Lleida to get closer his ticket to the Copa del Rey.
At the Pavelló Olímpic, the ‘Penya’ only trailed for half of the first quarter, since from there they went from 10-15 to 22-16 with which the 10th minute ran out. The green and black income grew during the second period, as Kassius Robertson warmed up facing the rim.
However, a choral performance by the Ilerda team in attack managed to make a comeback after the break. At 62-60 the fourth quarter began, where a quick triple by Robertson was answered by another by Edo Muric. As if it were an individual and not a collective duel, the Canadian guard – with a Jamaican passport – scored three points again.
Making the ‘rubber’ on the scoreboard, Joventut skillfully managed their distances and Força Lleida collapsed in the final minutes. This victory placed the team from Badalona with a balance of 8-5, still in sixth place in the table due to the victory of ‘Granca’.
For a while the ‘Penya’ had occupied fifth place, but the ‘pio-pio’ team played a great game to beat a rival who, despite everything, sold their defeat dearly. Nate Sestina’s excellent aim in the three-pointers kept Valencia Basket always in the ‘ointment’, while opposite Mike Tobey stood out in the low post.
With only 13.3 to go, and with that 97-94 at the Gran Canaria Arena, the ‘taronja’ team had the option of tying with a very distant shot by Jean Montero that crashed into the hoop. This left the Valencians still leaders, but now with a balance of 10-3; For their part, the yellows provisionally placed third, with 9-4.