Betis Basketball returns to live its role of pure masochism. Luis Casimiro’s team once again suffered a tough defeat against another rival that is more or less involved in the same qualifying problems as them, Casademont Zaragoza, and the worst thing is that it transmits a feeling of inactivity close to impotence from its leaders.
The Verdiblancos had summoned their audience for the resumption of the competition and this was the only one that did not fail. Because the team, in the decisive moments, was a real disaster. In the finale of last season, Shannon Evans’s leadership did not admit even the slightest question, but the North American point guard has found himself too alone this season and he insists on running into the walls again and again.
Without the help of centers Wiley, with their energy charge as well, and Pasecniks, the point guard is a want and I can’t. He tries in every way, but the worst thing is that he already begins to transmit an impatience that is also very harmful to all of his people. As, furthermore, he does not have the success of Bertans, Cvetkovic, BJ Johnson and, to a lesser extent, Eulis Báez to help them out, which they did give him in the brilliant final sprint of last season, as the result could not be more negative. in every sense.
Betis Basketball started with a 62-60 lead in the last quarter after different phases of irregularities in which the same was going on the scoreboard compared to Casademont Zaragoza, who also suffered partials in which it seemed that everything was going to be black in the future. of events. And it was, boy was it during the last quarter.
The difference in favor of Casimiro’s men had vanished in just two plays, which the team needed to take the lead with a 0-5 run thanks to free throws by the inspired Santi Yusta and the success of the three-pointer by North American Jessup . Betis Basketball’s response was a progressive madness in which Evans, who even missed a few free throws, insisted on fighting against the world until, at least, he scored a basket to make it 65-70.
The problem was that it was a mirage, the partial, then, had already gone up to 1-10 and, in addition, the North American point guard had failed everything before until placing himself with 1/9 in field shots. However, here he scored and at that precise moment there was a decision that would be fundamental by Luis Casimiro. The coach thought that the best time to rest Evans was after a hit and the result could not have been more pernicious for his team.
Because without Evans on the field, everyone looked at each other and led the ball to Pablo Almazán’s released three-pointers. The captain missed two consecutive ones practically alone and the response from Santi Yusta, the Casademont Zaragoza forward, was completely the opposite. He did hit his shots and the gap opened up to 65-78 with the collaboration of Jessup.
The collapse of Betis Basketball could not be more evident, even with suffering for their own in that attempt by the Betis fans to refloat the ship in a duel against a rival who also came with a victory. But the 5-23 of the last quarter is truly cruel and faithfully reflects the moment that Casimiro’s team is going through. It is true that the economic difficulties must be great, there are the numbers offered by Real Betis Balompié SAD to its shareholders, but the truth is that with this team the non-existence of basketball lovers who are faithful to the Verdiblancos colors is guaranteed. It is a true exercise in masochism, without a doubt.
Datasheet
67 – Real Betis Basketball (22+20+20+5): BJ Johnson (9), Hill (9), Bertans (6), Baez (12), Sylla (5) – starting five – Evans (12), Kurucs (0), Pozas (0), Cvetkovic (0), Warehouse (0), Gerun (0) and Tsalmpouris (14).
83 – Casademont Zaragoza (25+11+24+23): Radoncic (6), Jessup (20), Ponitka (14), Mekowulu (8) and Sant-Roos (4) -starting five-, Yusta (18), Langarita (3), Mara (2), Nguirane (0) , Simanic (2), Hlinason (3) and Garcia (3).
Referees: Rafael Serrano, Martin Caballero and Hector Baez. They eliminated the visiting Ponitka (minute 38) and the local Bertans (minute 37) for five fouls.
Incidences: Match of the eighth day of the Endesa League played at the San Pablo Palace in Seville in front of 6,827 spectators.
