The Palencia Baloncesto touches the epic

EasyCharger Palencia conceded the least painful of defeats this Friday when, against third-placed ICG Força Lleida, they were about to overcome a 19-point deficit. However, the reality, in what can be considered a ‘play-off’ rehearsal, is that the team suffered its third consecutive setback and showed phases of worrying disconnection.

Regardless of whether or not the team achieves victory, Blumbergs’ performance in recent weeks is typical of someone for whom the category is beginning to outgrow it. If already in the very close defeat (62-63) of the first round, the Latvian did everything that can be asked of a shooter (21 points), his first shot in Barris Nord seemed to mark territory and instill terror in his rival. However, ICG Força Lleida is a team that transmits enthusiasm from the stands to the pitch, where it also boasts enormous talent. When this is not left in the background due to youthful mistakes, it becomes a practically unstoppable team. Schreiner responded to the 3-pointer with another unlikely shot from 25 feet.

In the blink of an eye, the host team achieved a six-point difference (9-3), but above all the feeling of being one step above on a physical level. Speight showed up far less than the team needed from him, as well as Ali. In a rush, both players managed to establish the last advantage of the first half (9-11), but the feeling of power was always on the side of the locals. Ortega, with a veteran and resistance work, fought in attack and defense, and avoided bleeding in the first instance. However, psychologically, the Catalan team put land in the middle in the last seconds of the first act: Cleare, who came on to replace the injured Badji, became indefensible by the tall men of EasyCharger Palencia and forced the 2 +1 that raised the local advantage to six points (24-18).

The picture was bleak as soon as the ball was put back into play: Speight, with two fouls, rested for much of the fourth, and Lleida began to unbalance the contest with the rotation. Rosa became co-star of the night (the main role was awarded to Carrera). He started the fourth with an unappealable triple, and ended up dominating it under the basket. Hughes increased the starting demand with another triple (31-21) and only Nicholas’s good work from the perimeter kept Pedro Rivero’s team afloat, who never left the game for good (34-28). However, when Carrera re-entered the court, he was once again unstoppable. His four consecutive points since he returned widened the difference (42-29), a margin that was maintained until the break. Speight, who participated to avoid the catastrophe, was barely able to contribute a basket and the forced free throw in the action (53-41). Interestingly, the figures in scoring percentage, both inside and outside, or in rebounds were identical at halftime. The losses (2 from the local side and eight from EasyCharger Palencia) shed a little more light on the offensive problems of Palencia.

The always determining third quarter tested the faith of EasyCharger Palencia: a 7-0 run against and four minutes without scoring (60-41), exactly how long it took for Blumbergs to sign a triple to wake up his team. For their part, Lleida took their first goal with Rosa’s fortuitous injury, after trying to block a counterattack from Ortega, and Pedro Rivero’s players took advantage of the doubts to return to the game (62-59 and a partial 1-18 , in a surreal and incomprehensible room).

I live until the end

EasyCharger Palencia (67-62) made it to the last quarter alive, with the local coach, Gerard Encontr, disqualified for a technical double and the threat of Carrera’s four fouls. It was hardly played during the first six minutes, in which the Palencia squad stayed afloat (74-68). With the team already in bonus, and an evident tension in each play, Speight left EasyCharger Palencia closer than ever (77-74). With fifty seconds to go, a basket by Blumbergs tightened the scoring even more and left the players coached by Pedro Rivero just two points behind (80-78). But it could not be and finally Speight, with a triple, made up the result of an honorable and incredible defeat from Palencia.