BAXI Manresa fights until a final coin toss with defeat in Türkiye
Bages' side had their ups and downs throughout the match, coming from behind but unable to catch Aliaga Petkimspor in the final whistle. Cameron Hunt stood out with 23 points.
89 Aliaga Petkimspor I Russell 4, Tyree 14, Dotson 20, Williams 10 and Echenique 14; Van Beck 21, Sav, Gultekin 6 and Aldridge
86 BAXI Manresa I Dani Pérez 3, Hunt 23, Jou 8, Alston Jr. 15 and Cate 4; Vescovi 5, Reyes 10, Steinbergs 10, Sagnia 3, Saint-Supéry 5 and Gaspà
Partials: 20-29, 33-11, 22-24, 14-22
BAXI Manresa was unable to return to victory against the visiting Turkish team Aliaga Petkimspor, as they lost a match decided in the final seconds (89-86). After a great start, Bages' side paid dearly for a poor second quarter, as they were unable to complete the comeback in the last minute.
Diego Ocampo's players started the match very focused and accurate from the three-point line (they scored five out of eight attempts). The visitors, led by a very fit Hunt, led by eleven points in a first quarter that ended 20-29.
In the second quarter, the Turks made a great start and quickly turned the score around (34-31). Alston Jr. and Hunt gave their team some air, but the locals stepped up again and made a convincing 17-0 run to reach half-time with a thirteen-point lead (53-40).
Coming back from the locker room, Petkimspor was very sharp from long distance and enjoyed an eighteen-point lead (70-52). Things were getting very complicated for the Manresa team, although they were able to close the gap at the end of the third quarter (75-64).
In the last ten minutes, the Bages team never gave up and managed to get within just one point in the last minute. They even had a chance to get ahead, but they didn't know how to take advantage of it. Van Beck scored four free throws and Dani Pérez missed the final three-pointer.
On Saturday from 20:45, BAXI Manresa will visit the difficult court of Dreamland Gran Canaria.