Comeback and victory by 82 to 80 of ICL Manresa to put the 2-0

82 ICL Manresa | Costa 5, Lundberg 10, Allen 14, Martín 21 i Trias 8; Hamilton 7, Jou, Sakho 4, Garcia, Muñoz 11 i Gintvainis 2.

80 Chocolates Trapa Palencia | Pressley 12, Pino 17, Grimau 11, Otegui 16 i Busma 2; Miso 7, Garrido 5, Ruffin, Cvetinovic 6 i Toledo 4.

Partials: 18-18, 13-23; 25-20 i 26-19.

ICL Manresa gets a new victory to take more advantage in the semifinal series, but each game is being a heart attack or cross. This Sunday, 82-80 at the Nou Congost with great performances by Nacho Martín, 21 points and Noah Allen, with 14. The third match will be Friday in Palencia.

The Nou Congost hoped not to suffer, and did it again. The start, however, was favorable to the home, with a three-pointer of Allen and two baskets of Martin to put the 8-2. They cut the visitors, but could run the Manresa to place the 18-10. A partial 0-8 in the last minutes caused the game to be tied.

The visitors went out and dominated the second period to get 10 points to rest. The ICL Manresa only added from the free throw line, and the Nou Congost warmed up with the arbitration decisions. The ball, however, did not want to enter, and only Muñoz and Allen from the line of shots were right. We had to go back.

Half come back came in the third period, with a basket of Martin and another of Trias, which crushed. Then, a good streak of three-pointers would arrive, with Lundberg, Martín and 2 of Muñoz, who in spite of the answers of long and medium distance of the Castilians, approached the Manresa. It seemed that before the last minute Palencia escaped again, but a 2 plus 1 of Martin put the reds to 5 points.

In the last 10 minutes, Lundberg responded to the initial three-pointer of the visitors, and Hamilton returned to put the team in the game with a three-pointer by 64 to 66. Then, time for Allen, tray and three-pointer to put Manresa ahead. Then a final phase full of free throws would arrive, with enough home success. The final was also marked by the disqualification of the visiting coach.

At the press conference, Diego Ocampo declared that «we started well, in defense and circulating well, but at the end of the first quarter a partial 0-6 was the prolegomenon of what would happen to the second quarter; we have not stopped the direct penetrations, nor have we spent fouls to stop it; we have been better in attack, but without throwing a basket, it was necessary that they were prepared; we have had doubts, and they have made us some impressive basket; the game has been very difficult for us because in the third quarter they have played with a lot of confidence, but we have not dismounted and in a close match we have achieved it, suffering a lot; the players have shown a very good mentality» .