The second era of Abraham Carrión at the helm of Amiab Albacete has started in the best possible way, with a new title for the club from La Mancha. The champion of the League and the Champions League of wheelchair basketball has inaugurated the course with the conquest of the Spanish Super Cup, a competition that had its baptism in the Lepanto Pavilion. The people from Albacete defeated CD Ilunion 68-57 in the final and leave the trophy at home.
The Madrid team started more connected, with Amadou Diallo prevailing in the paint and Terry Bywater taking control of the game and being a hammer with his shots (2-9). On the other side, Mateusz Filipski began to sharpen his fang. The Pole wants to take a step forward and take stripes in Albacete before the departure of Ghaz Choudhry and Kyle Marsh, bastions in the achievements of the orange team in 2021. Seven points of his, plus the contribution of Lee Manning and Álex Zarzuela, allowed the locals approach Ilunion (17-19).
After the break, the Australian Bill Latham signed a 0-6 run (17-25) that was answered by the British trident of Albacete, Lee Manning, Ben Fox and Phil Pratt (23-27). Ilunion missed more presence of the Mexican Luis Jasso, who came out in the semifinals against his former Bidaideak Bilbao. This time he had another colossus in front of him, a Manning who hurt his rival under the hoop. A 2+1 from Fox in the final moments turned the score around before the break (37-34).
On the way back from the changing rooms, both teams danced together, a give and take without respite. Fox, Óscar Onrubia and Zarzuela hit for Amiab, Pablo Lavandeira, Bywater and Jasso did it for Madrid to tighten the result (43-42). When the Mexican was better, Víctor Ramos sent him to the bench and his absence was noted. Manning, Pratt, Filipski and a great Álex Zarzuela endorsed the rival in a terrible 13-0 run with which they neutralized Ilunion (56-42).
In the last quarter, Gregg Warburton and Jasso tried to re-engage their team in the match, but ran into the most solid and choral version of Amiab Albacete who would not miss out on a new title (68-57). Manning (15 points and 13 rebounds), who received the MVP of the tournament, Zarzuela (14 points) and Filipski, were the most prominent.
Technical sheet of the match:
BSR Amiab Albacete (68): Charlotte Woodgate Moore, Álex Zarzuela (14), Lee Manning (15), Mateusz Filipski (14), Ben Fox (9), Fran Lara, Harris Brown (4), Vicky Pérez, Óscar Onrubia (6) and Phil Pratt (6 ).
CD Illusion (57): Tom O’Neill (3), Amadou Diallo (7), Pablo Lavandeira (2), Terry Bywater (12), Luis Edward Jasso (12), Dani Stix, Sara Revuelta, Bill Latham (8), Paco Garcia Quiles, Gregg Warburton (13) and Dani Diaz.
Partials: 17-19, 20-15, 19-8 y 12-15
Referees: Julian Rebollo, L. Baquero and J. Uruñuela.
In the match for third place, Bidaideak Bilbao won 77-68 against a rebuilding Econy Gran Canaria. The islanders, who have lost this course to pillars such as the Americans Jorge Sánchez and Rose Marie Hollermann, and the Dutchman Arie Twigt, stood up to their vertical game, but the contribution of players such as the French Alexis Ramonet (21 points) or the American Jorge Salazar (18 points), were insufficient against a Basque team in which one of his signings is already beginning to stand out, the Italian Giulio Maria Papi (27 points). Manu Lorenzo (18) and Asier García also shone with a triple double (11 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists).
