BAXI Manresa loses to Tenerife who impose their pace
Defeat by 73-84 in the second round of the Top16 in a match of little inspiration and low scoring by the locals.
73 BAXI Manresa I Dani Pérez 2, Obasohan 8, Reyes 4, Alston Jr. 11 and Cate 14; Vescovi 2, Jou, Massa 3, Steinbergs 11, Sagnia, Saint-Supéry 5 and Hunt 13
84 La Laguna Tenerife I Huertas 18, Fitipaldo 4, Scrubb 9, Doornekamp 6 and Guerra 16; Kramer 2, Kostadinov 3, Fernández 9, Costa, Sastre 17 and Shermadini
Partials: 20-18, 20-21, 17-23, 16-22
BAXI Manresa was unable to add its second victory in the Top16 of the Basketball Champions League, as it fell at the Nou Congost against one of the favourites for the title, La Laguna Tenerife, in a match that was decided in the last quarter (73-84).
The match started with equality between both teams, who exchanged dominance on the scoreboard and could not open a gap. The reds, led by Cate, closed the first quarter with a two-point lead against the Canaries without Shermadini, who was disqualified (20-18).
In the second period the islanders turned the score around and always led with small differences. In the final stretch of the first half, Hunt put the team on his back and scored eight points in a row for the team from Manresa who went into the break ahead thanks to a basket from Massa (40-39).
Coming back from the locker room the tone was the same, and neither of the two teams could escape. At the end of the third quarter, Scrubb scored a three-pointer from the centre of the field to put the players led by Txus Vidorreta five points ahead on the scoreboard (57-62).
In the last ten minutes the visitors came out strong and went ten points ahead thanks to five consecutive points from Sastre (57-67). From there, the Bages team tried to get back into the game, but the Canaries were solid and took the second victory of the Top16.
On Saturday from 18:00 BAXI Manresa will receive the visit of Surne Bilbao Basket at the Nou Congost.