Samora Enamora sets her record for the longest cup

Zamora Enamora lost the 2018 final in Alicante and six years later she debuts her record with a new design for the LEB Plata Cup, which remains at the Angel Nieto Stadium. An even game with Tony Naespler showing quality, Jacob Round on the wrist, Jahvon Powell with electricity… but the most decisive player was Jonas Paukste with his height of 223 centimeters, who won the MVP title with 21 points, 14 rebounds and 27 PIR.

The match started with a great atmosphere in the stands (200 fans came from Cartagena) and a very successful performance from the visiting team: Gerard Blat controlled the tempo and Tote Alonso (last year’s Cup winner with Tisona Burgos) scored easily. But after Zamora’s first 3-12, Enamora responded with fast basketball driven by the electric Javon Powell to make it 10-12 on a 7-0 run. The first quarter continued with great attacks, including a three-pointer by Josep Peris that made it 22-26.

But Copa is a play in four acts, and the second was completely different. The Cartagena team blocked the attack, and Zamora Enamora took advantage of the height of Jonas Paukste and the quality of Toni Naspler. The partial score was 9-0 and the score was 31-26, which caused Jordi Juste to go to time-out. Ab Sediq Garuba returned to provide the intensity, but the Castilians took advantage of the rotation of their extensive bench to hold the line and secure an important margin of 50-39 before heading to the dressing room. The first period was marked by shots from outside: more three-pointers were scored (17) than two-pointers (15).

The third act of Angel Nieto’s work began in a draw, with more throwing errors than usual, although the speed of play was still very high. Paukste’s three fouls limited their defense, but the lead did not drop below 10 points, which calmed the home team. Johan Cody opened fire from beyond 6.75, while Jacob Round showed good minutes to keep the distance (64-53) with ten minutes to go.

Zamorano coach Saulo Hernandez didn’t want the final act to be shocking and stopped the game with a timeout after Cartagena’s Odilo’s first goal. But Juste’s men continued to press defensively and disrupt the zone to counter the height of the opposition centers. Juan Jimenez’s triple made it 68–65 after a 4–12 run in the first four minutes of the quarter. The Castilians played to their inner strength, but three straight threes (one from Xabi Beraza and two from Johan Cody, who was still swimming) made it 77-77 with 1:20 remaining. And up to four possessions, two for each side, in which no one achieved anything positive and the match went into overtime.

Every point was worth a lot in extra time. And the first was a left-footed free kick from Gerard Bluth. But fatigue, the importance of the match and nerves caused errors in FC Cartagena CB, who had the victory in their hands but allowed Josep Peris to throw and send the match into a second overtime. And in the second extra period, the locals had the advantage, taking advantage of their opponents’ need to call personal fouls by winning on free throws.