Unicaja struggles to negotiate rocky Manresa

Unicaja suffered endlessly in the first game of this playoff against the good Baxi Manresa, who dominated with authority until he went down in the fourth quarter Local residents found the right way to turn the situation around. With a score of 17-3 in just three minutes and highlights Alberto Diaz and Yankuba Sima maintain, despite many problems, the home court factor and face the visit to Nou Congost next Tuesday with advantage.

It was a match in which Pedro Martinez’s team managed to deactivate the Kahista artillery with a partial score of 0-17. it hit them on the scoreboard in the 12th minute (18-30). From that moment on, they knew how to tie up Ibon Navarro’s men to scare Carpena, who suspected the worst with the score 52-56 in the third act. But in the final stretch, the Malagueños imposed their physicality and found a purpose for a fight that was becoming indigestible for them.

0-17 partial

Ibon Navarro warned the day before about the similarities between the two teams. Physical play, aggressive defense, intensity to damage the opponent and good defensive balance. First quarter with a lot of contacts, where the score increased from 18-13 to 18-24. The partial score is 0-11 among those who sting seven points from Pierre Oriola.

The problems for the locals continued with a three from Dani Garcia and another from Steinbergs (18-30 min. 12). The game was already 0-17. Navarro is asking for time because his team’s decline is becoming serious. Unicaja responds with an 8-0 score (five points from Thomas), and now the one asking for time is Pedro Martinez.

The game is filled with interceptions, turnovers and poor shot selection. and the score remains at 30-33 (17 minutes). The external failure of the Malaga team was worrying (4/15 in threes and 6/14 in two-pointers). Manresa returns to form (31-37). New corrective time of Ibon. At halftime, Unicaja is on the edge (34-40), and Manresa is a better rebounder.

After the restart, Manresa did not slow down and with two new triples from Oriola and Vauleta, their score was 42-50(min. 25). In these difficult moments, the Verdimorados entrust support to Kendrick Perry, who is absent due to physical problems. Thomas took responsibility for pulling the car in attack and defense, but the Malaga team missed incredible and unthinkable hits against the regular league leader, an inaccurate and nervous team that had no underdog (6/23 threes in this section). Dominating the rebound, running and blocking the locals, Manresa controlled… Unicaja’s style. The 30th minute reached the score 52-56.

Alberto and Sima

Thanks to Carpena’s efforts, Unicaja is making efforts to improve its physical level.or. With five points from Kalinoski and three from Alberto Diaz, Unicaja regained the lead on the scoreboard for the first time since the eighth minute (60-56). The insatiable score is 8-0 and Pedro Martinez has to ask for the clock to be reset. Alberto comes in with another timely three of his own after Sima pulls back an offensive rebound (65-59), as well as another from Taylor (67-59) and a dunk from Sima (69-59). A radical and sudden turn. Partial score 17-3, an impressive turnaround with excellent minutes from Yankuba Sima.

All the success that wasn’t there in the previous three quarters came when Ibon’s team needed it most, going down 13 (79-66) with three minutes left. Unattainable for the good Manresa, which ended with its tongue hanging out in the face of the physical power of Unicaja, who knew how to suffer to get the first match of this match.

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