Valencia Basket closes the first phase of the Euroleague with a great balance of 3 wins and only one defeat after beating French Tango Bourges 76-68 on Tuesday, November 15, in a match in which those from Burgos knew how to have patience to gradually take over the game and with an extraordinary third quarter, unbalance a duel that seemed very complicated against the reigning Eurocup champion.
A match in which Queralt Casas played his 144th match with Valencia Basket, making her the player with the most matches in all of Taronja’s history, surpassing the Valencian Anna Gómez.
An even start
The scoreboard was opened with a triple by a Marie Gülich who starred in the area in one of the most interesting duels of the match against Kayla Alexander, sister of Valencia Basket player Kyle Alexander. It was difficult for both teams to score in the early stages of the game and the score moved in slow motion (3-4 min.4). The Bourges did damage with the fast penetrations of his point guard, Yvonne Anderson. Burgos brought on Cox and Torrens looking for freshness in the attack. Valencian and French democratically alternated dominance on the scoreboard with meager advantages. Valencia Basket lost several consecutive balls and Bourges went timidly (9-14 min. 8). Rubén Burgos responded with a timeout. The danger receded with Casas, Torrens and Ouviña as protagonists. The first quarter closed with 16-19 after the arbitration ‘gift’ to Bourges of 2 free throws after whistling a non-existent foul on the taronja.
With a 5-0 run, the taronja turned the score around again (21-19). With Anderson again leading the French game and with Steinberga as the offensive striker, Bourges took another bite 22-25 min. 13). Cox responded with a triple confirming that equality was going to be the keynote of the night. The game entered a dangerous phase for Valencia Basket with a Bourges that moved the ball better. The taronja had a hard time finding clear solutions in attack. With 32-36 (min. 17), Burgos stopped the game another timeout. Bourges escaped with a 7 advantage but the taronja took advantage of the free throw line with Carrera as the protagonist to stop the French and it came to rest with 37-39 and all to decide.
The takeoff came in the third quarter
The third quarter began with a fast game and with an exchange of baskets without truce from which Bourges initially benefited, little by little stretching its advantage again (42-50). It was time to push in defense and that was what Valencia Basket did. With intensity they added up a proverbial 9-0 culminating with a three-pointer from Alba Torrens that put the Burgos team ahead again (51-50). Queralt joined the party and Bourges stagnateda. The partial rose to 12-0 and La Fonteta recalled the 20-0 defeat last week against Szekszard. With the score already in favor, now it was time for another difficult mission: trying to put land in the middle with the French. The taronja closed the last quarter with their biggest advantage so far (63-55). The last quarter began in the best way and the taronja extended their advantage (68-55 min. 31). Bourges was not willing to give up but Valencia Basket was not willing to let the victory slip away either and they, based on a solid defense and intelligence in attack, stayed at home.
