BAXI Manresa wins a very close match against UCAM Murcia
Diego Ocampo's men hold out against the current league runners-up with a fight and final success. Alston Jr. and Hunt, the most outstanding of the Bages team.
80 BAXI Manresa I Dani Pérez 9, Vescovi 2, Sagnia 6, Alston Jr. 13 and Steinbergs 12; Reyes 8, Massa 3, Hustak, Saint-Supéry, Hunt 15, Obasohan 6 and Cate 6
74 UCAM Murcia I Hakanson 9, Ennis 8, Sant-Roos 12, Kurucs 2 and Todorovic 18; Dani García, Caupain 2, Radovic, Radebaugh 11, Brodziansky 5, Diagné 2 and Stephens 5
Partials: 19-29, 23-13, 20-17, 18-15
BAXI Manresa found the path to victory again in the Nou Congost and did so by defeating UCAM Murcia in a very even match that had to be decided in the last minute (80-74).
The players led by Sito Alonso started the match with great success and quickly took control of the scoreboard. The Reds knew how to react and tied the score at 16, but then the visitors scored eight consecutive points to close the first quarter (19-29).
In the second period the locals came out more focused and knew how to attack the Murcians' zone. This allowed them to score a 13-2 run to turn the scoreboard around (32-31). From then on, there was a lot of equality between both teams, so much so that the half-time score was tied at 42.
Coming back from the changing rooms, there were a few moments of equality before the visitors scored a 0-9 run (46-53). However, the team from Manresa counterattacked with fourteen consecutive points that allowed them to turn the score around and end the third quarter with a three-point lead (62-59).
In the last ten minutes neither team could open the gap and could not avoid a toss-up finale. Hunt was decisive in this with an additional three-pointer and two free throws to give the team its eighth victory of the season in the Endesa League.
On Saturday from 20:45 BAXI Manresa will visit the difficult court of Casademont Zaragoza, one of the surprise teams of the Endesa League.