Spar Girona already have three victories in the Euroleague after opening the second bubble in Schio this afternoon with a convincing and valuable victory against Riga (82-52). Alfred Julbe’s team has given the Latvians no choice. From the defense, especially in the first and third quarter, and the success of the shot in the last, when the game was already sentenced, have been key. Also the spectacular contribution of María Araújo, defending, scoring and rebounding, and Chelsea Gray. Uni has left the rival with only 6 and 12 points scored in the first and third quarters. Riga have been very misguided throughout the match, and their main players, such as Laksa or Thomas, have hardly appeared beyond a timid reaction shortly before the break (35-28). In the third quarter Spar Girona broke the game with a 22-12 partial, to leave the duel almost finished (57-40). And if it wasn’t, the two triples in a row that opened the last half of Eldebrink and Ferrari, closed it permanently (63-40). From here there has been no further history. Uni has ended up regaining its best offensive version, improving a lot in the triple, and Riga has raised the white flag without arguments to react. With one minute to go the Spar won by 30 (82-52), the maximum difference, which has remained until the end.
In Fontajau, in the first bubble, Riga’s anarchic game put a lot of problems on Uni. The Girona girls were about to have a scare but in the end they were able to save the victory by two points. Julbe had already warned that it was vital to win today’s match against Riga and not yet think about the “final” against Schio, where there will be second place in the group, and the ticket for quarters, in play. The lesson was well learned and the Girona team did not fail. In the first quarter there was only a little more dominance of the defensive rebound and more success in attack, but the defense and the mistakes of the rival have allowed to go clearly ahead (14-6). In the second quarter Riga made an attempt to react with a partial 0-8 but remained in it, in an attempt. Dominating seven at halftime (35-28), Julbe’s team gave no choice to the rival and ended up adding a placid victory that leaves the team in an optimal position to compete with Schia on Friday for a place in the quarterfinals . Uni can do just one loss by less than four points to qualify.
Top scorers: Araujo (19), Gray (15), Eldebrink (12) and Ferrari (11)
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