A fighting BAXI Manresa is overcome by Real Madrid
The Bages team fought even when everything seemed lost but they are not at the level of Real Madrid to challenge them for victory in the quarter-finals.
92 Real Madrid I Campazzo 11, Musa 10, Abalde 5, Ndiaye 2 and Tavares 8; González 5, Hezonja 24, Garuba, Ibaka, Fernando 3, Llull 13 and Feliz 11
69 BAXI Manresa I Dani Pérez 5, Obasohan 9, Sagnia, Alston Jr. 17 and Cate 2; Vescovi, Jou, Reyes 14, Massa 14, Steinbergs 1, Saint-Supéry 2 and Hunt 5
Partials: 22-22, 21-8, 20-19, 29-20
BAXI Manresa was unable to spring a surprise and fell to the powerful Real Madrid in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey in Gran Canaria (92-69). After a level first quarter, the Madrid team dominated from the second onwards and gave Bages no chance.
The players led by Chus Mateo made a great start and scored the first seven points of the match. The Reds then reacted with a 0-10 run. From then on, the scoreboard at the end of the first quarter (22-22) showed a lot of equality.
In the second, the Madrid team came out strong again and quickly opened up a gap on the scoreboard (33-24). The Whites raised their defensive level, which caused a major mistake by the Manresa team, who went into the break with a thirteen-point disadvantage (43-30).
Coming back from the locker room, Real Madrid continued to dominate and had a maximum difference of 22 points (59-37). But the Bages team did not give up and, with two three-pointers from Reyes and four points from Massa, they closed the third quarter fourteen points down (63-49).
In the last ten minutes, Diego Ocampo's men continued to fight to get back into the game and came within eleven points (65-54). However, they faced a very powerful rival, who was solid and managed the advantage to reach the final moments with the victory in the bag.
Next Sunday, March 2, starting at 12:30, BAXI Manresa will resume the Endesa League on the complicated Unicaja court.