Girona returns to the ACB league 14 years later (60-66)

Marc Gasol has played, and he has played so much, that he had had Girona in his heart since he was injured in the semi-final against Lleida in the third quarter and left lame in the locker room. It was doubtful, but the fans had begun to breathe a sigh of relief when it became known that they had gone to Fontajau to try out in the early afternoon and that the sensations were good, and more so than they were when he left. to warm up normally with the rest of the classmates. Seeing him in the starting five has already been the final spark to ignite the fans and start the final with everyone convinced that it was possible. It was the day, the time and the place. And although he did not sign his best performance, his mere presence was already a small victory for morale.

Gasol was the starter but the first name of the game was Fjellerup, author of 7 points almost in a row at the beginning of the first quarter, applying the recipe that the team likes best: energy in defense, speed in the ‘time to move the ball, and hit in attack (4-9). But of course, in the end nothing is easy, and immediately everything has been equalized. Even Estudiantes took the lead with a triple by Faggiano (12-9), although Girona finished the first dominant half of five (14-19) with Fontajau excited as never before.

To open the second quarter a triple by Vila gave Girona the maximum advantage (14-22, +8), answered with a 6-0 by Estudiantes (20-22) which far from sowing doubts, preceded once of effect of Girona. Two triples in a row by Vecvagars and a basketball by Jawara put a +10 on the scoreboard (20-30), and despite the deficit in the rebound (especially offensive), Sargatal were dominant until they were stuck in attack and 47 according to the break, the Girona coach had to stop the game with the school team at 4 (28-32). The same difference with which it has reached the half (30-34) thanks to a basketball on the horn of Dee, who with 7 points was the top scorer of Madrid.

As the game had started, with Girona in the lead, the third quarter did. Marc Gasol and Fjellerup were the protagonists again and while Fontajau was throwing, the team again dominated from 8 (32-40) despite not stopping the problems in the rebound. A 2 + 1 from the pivot has given a maximum advantage of +11 to Girona (35-46) three and a half minutes to end the half. And another 2 + 1, in this case the Argentine, has put the +12 (37-49). And a triple by Urtasun on +13 (39-52), answered by Beirán (42-52), and returned by Sàbat (42-55) in a few electric minutes that have put Girona 14 up (43-57) ). The arguments for believing in it were increasingly firm (47-58 to close the partial).

A triple by Beirán and a basket by Martín put Estudiantes at 6 (52-58) to open the final half. Girona could not find a way to score and nerves appeared, the fear of failing. Gasol is back on track. There were just over six minutes left, and the first ball he scored went inside (52-60). Girona’s only two points in this quarter so far. But Beirán nailed another triple (55-60) and Dee, with a free kick, made it 56-60 to make it clear that the Madridians had not yet said the last word. Faggiano was 58-60 3 minutes from the end and Girona’s collapse was already complete. Fjellerup appeared to give air to his (58-62, two minutes from the end, when the partial was 11-4. A minute and a half later Gasol made it 58-64 and then Fontajau collapsed Girona had the ACB to play, and 8 seconds from the end Franch sealed it to the delight of the fans (59-66).