Talavera Basketball: Cooper (24), Aaron Ganal (11), McRay-Thomas (7), Jesus Castillo (6) and Andrejevic (12) – the starting quintet – Peris (20), Archer (4), Alvaro Martinez (10). ), Shipyards (3) and Bottenberg (4).
Canoeing: Mario Alvarez (14), Fortes (5), Guille Ruiz (2), Parra (18) and Bacale – the starting quintet – Hector Jimenez (8), Alfonso Ortiz (14), Lorenzo (4), Gabriel Gil (4). 20), Echeverria and Hugo Lopez.
Referees: Soto Medina (Catalan committee) and Martín Rodríguez-Malo (Castilian-La Mancha committee). No player was fouled out.
Partials: 30-21, 26-20 (56-41), 22-26 (78-67), 23-18 (101-85).
Pavilion First of May. 1,800 spectators.
Great image that Ricardo Úriz’s men left before their fans at the premiere of the new track on May Day. An important and resounding victory against Canoe, a direct rival, which makes them catch their breath in the standings and achieve their third victory in eight games.
The Talavera started in the best way. Cooper took the reins of the match and from his hands an 8-2 run was born in less than three minutes. The visiting coach, Borja González, soon had to make adjustments to stop the push of the ceramic team, but the reaction did not come. With Cooper already resting, Álvaro Martínez took his baton coming off the bench and added eight points that dynamited the match. As if the problems for Canoe were few, two consecutive losses were taken advantage of by the Talavera team to once again widen the difference up to a nine lead.
The second quarter was once again led by Cooper with a triple that put the maximum advantage of the game. Twelve up for the Talavera. The ceramic team proved to be inspired in attack, especially from the line of three. In the final minutes of the first half, Canoe tried to be more intense in defense to stop this problem, but all the plays ended in free throws or 2+1, with a good Andrejevic in the paint, which made the comeback impossible against a Talavera who was very comfortable during the first twenty minutes and this was reflected in the score at halftime: 56-41.
After passing through the changing rooms, Canoe increased their aggressiveness with full-court pressure and improved their effectiveness on the track in search of turning the game around. Two consecutive triples and three free throws put the Madrid team back to nine points. This time the Talavera was not so comfortable in a continuous exchange of blows. With Cooper on the bench and several moments of disconnection, they saw how everything evened out slightly leaving it 78-67 before the fourth quarter.
But when everything seemed adjusted again, the last quarter was the most placid of all for Talavera. The Canoe did not exist in the last twelve minutes. After a great start to the final act of the azulón team, the fifteen difference returned. Each attack was counted per basket scored. That was taking the visiting squad out of the match, which saw the ring getting smaller with the passing of the seconds. Moment that Úriz’s boys took advantage of to sentence with spectacular effectiveness in their field goals to which the Madrid team found no response. Halfway through the quarter they were already leading by 19. An inspired Peris, who ended up adding 20 points, and an acclaimed Cooper, with 24, were the heroes of the night.
