A terrible second quarter, with Palma scoring 33 points and going to the break again (39-48) ended up being the condemnation for a Bàsquet Girona that is still quite thick. For those who want to see the bottle half full, it can always be said that Carles Marco’s team never lowered their arms and that despite going all the way to the second half, they ended up having (and missing) a ball to force the extension, and go find out what would have happened then. But the other side of the coin also exists. And yesterday he failed against a direct rival, he continues to play intermittently and it became clear again that ten minutes of disconnection are always very expensive. Still good that in the end he only lost by three and now the average with the Balearics is equal, and not lost.
Kari Jónsson, who finally made his debut yesterday with Girona, had the triple of extra time just a few seconds before the end. He failed, and so did Albert Sabbath from under the hoop, looking for a basket that would have at least kept the average in favor of his team. Perhaps reaching the extra time would have rewarded the faith of the team, which with two triples in a row from Busquets (yesterday 21 points) and Sàbat, suddenly entered a game he had lost, although it was late. Haste, you know, is never a good ally. And this reaction does not hide that Palma almost always had the duel under control, except for a first quarter dominated by the locals (20-15). With Jawara (22 points and 30 points) immense, and a lot of outside success (10/20 triples) they did enough to beat Girona despite the final scare.
Bàsquet Girona started the second quarter winning by 7 (22-15 after a basket from debutant Kari Jónsson) and ended up losing it again (39-48) after ten very disappointing minutes. There they buried Carles Marco’s options in a game that had to be won. Palma, able to make 33 points in this half taking advantage of defensive passivity, rubbed their hands. The last play was significant enough to define the situation: Figueras missed the second free kick with 9 decimals ahead and Suskavcevic still has time to catch the rebound and get two more points out of nowhere on the horn. It also portrays the panorama, the roller coaster on which the team continues, from the initial 22-15 to a 0-10 (22-25), which was followed within the game (35-35) and that in the minutes finals the Balearics, based on triples (7/11 in the first half), reopened the hole until 39-48 at halftime.
A triple by Harrell just starting the second half further complicated matters (39-51) and then, twelve points below, Busquets prevented the train from escaping permanently with his outside hit. Five minutes before the end of the third quarter, Girona had narrowed the gap and forced Palma to call timeout (52-57). The locals got to put three (58-61 Logan) but a foul and technique to Faye two seconds from the end on Kullamae again shot the visitors (61-68).
This wanting and not being able continued until the end. A triple over Lundqvist’s horn put Palma eight up again (63-71) and it seemed increasingly difficult to think about the comeback. At least Girona did not lose faith. With 68-76 at 4 minutes, Rozitis and Busquets missed three free throws. Two minutes from the end, the visitors were 72-81, and despite the final rain from Girona (8-2, Logan, Busquets and Sàbat), it was clear that it was getting late again.
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