A savior Steinbergs three-pointer gives BAXI Manresa its twelfth victory
The Bages team, who were behind on the scoreboard for most of the game, came alive in the final stretch and stormed Granada thanks to the Latvian's final basket.
93 Covirán Granada I Costa 7, Thomasson 6, Kramer 4, Cheatham 21 and Felicio 17; Dime 2, Rousselle 19, Díaz 10, Tomàs 7 and Iriarte
94 BAXI Manresa I Taylor 15, Badio 12, Sagnia 5, Robinson 16 and Geben 5; Travanté 6, Steinbergs 13, Valtonen 7, Vaulet 7 and Dani Pérez 8
Partials: 22-25, 27-20, 20-22, 24-27
BAXI Manresa celebrated its 1,600th match in the Spanish top category with a hard-fought victory in Granada, the twelfth of the season. Those from Bages dominated the beginning of the match thanks to their successful shooting, but in the middle of the second quarter everything changed and they went behind until the final stretch, when Marcis Steinbergs appeared to score a three-pointer on the board and give the victory to the team.
After a few first moments with baskets exchanged between both teams, Pedro Martínez's players showed high effectiveness in shooting, which made them gain up to eight points (17-25). However, the Andalusians resisted and got within three at the end of the first quarter (22-25).
In the second the home team improved in defense and managed to lower the shooting percentages of the Bages team. Thanks to this, they were able to turn the score around and obtain a seven-point margin. At halftime, Coviran Granada dominated by four points (49-45).
Returning from the locker room, it didn't take long for the Manresans to tie, but they couldn't take the lead. The Andalusians continued to control the score at all times but the visitors remained within striking distance at all times. At the end of the third quarter, 69-67 and everything to be decided.
In the last ten minutes the locals completed a 9-1 run to be eight points ahead (75-67). After a phase of exchanging baskets, Bages' team continued to fight, especially on the offensive rebound, and managed to reach an even finish. In this one the external success appeared again, but it seemed that it would not be enough. Granada was ahead and forgave little from the free throw, but in the last seconds Steinbergs scored a three-pointer on the board to give the victory to the Manresans, since the last rival attack was unsuccessful.
On Sunday starting at 6:30 p.m., BAXI Manresa will play again at the Nou Congost and will do so against the powerful Barça, in the first of the two consecutive Catalan derbies between the two teams, which will meet again in the quarterfinal of the Copa del Rey in Malaga, on Friday, February 16.