Negative balance for Spar Girona in this month of heart attack December. A very bad second quarter (23-13)in which Girona only scored 2 points in seven minutes, condemned the team’s choices in the pending duel of the second day of the league against Barça CBS which was played at the Juan Carlos Navarro pavilion and which, had he taken advantage of it, would have placed Bernat Canut’s team as the sole leaders in the league. Girona, who had just lost in Fontajau against Araski and won against Jairis in Múrica, ended up losing by 16 points and, despite reacting in the last quarter, failed to turn the score around.
Barça’s Canadian pivot, Ruth Hamblin, was the game’s top scorer with 17 points. The Blaugranas, who haven’t lost in their fortress for 1,013 days, have become the black beast of Girona, whom they have beaten up to three times this year. Spar’s defeat dynamits the classification in the Endesa League, which is left with a multiple tie with up to six teams (Saragossa, Perfumerías, Valencia, Gernika, Girona and Barça) tied at the top of the standings with seven wins and three losses. But with this frenetic pace, there’s no time for regrets. This week Fontajau will host two more Uni matches: Euroleague match against the Hungarian DVTK on Thursday (6 p.m.) and Julia Reisingerova’s Perfumerías Avenida (6 p.m.) on Sunday in a new league match.
The task, at first, was not at all easy. The Barça pavilion, for now, is an impregnable fortress. The women from Girona took the lead at the beginning of the duel, but the game took on cruising speed with a high rate of scoring and an Anna Cruz (12 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists) remembering her old days allowed the hosts close the first quarter with a tie (19-19). Ainhoa López, a well-known face in the Uni ranks, started the second period with a 2+1 to put the home side back in front. The Blaugrana moved the ball brilliantly, taking advantage of the mobility of their players and taking outside shots to make it a 16-2 run.
Uni collapsed in attack, with only 2 points in seven minutes of the second quarter, a fact that Davies took advantage of to put his finger on the wound and widen the gap to 14. Bernat Canut was desperate on the sideline and, fortunately, the Girona team reacted with a 0-5 run to try to get into the game (37-28). Barça paused the game and took advantage of the visitors’ uncertainty to maintain their distance. The Spar tried to respond, but things didn’t work out in attack and in defense either. Canadian center Ruth Hamblin did absolutely everything under the hoop, she had no stopper. However, the duo formed by Cornelius and Tolo has taken advantage of the Canadian’s minutes of rest to cut the gap to 10 points.
The match heated up, showing the tension in a couple of singles duels. The number of fouls has increased exponentially, putting both teams in a bonus. Uni reacted first with Gardner and then with Tolo to reduce the difference from the free throw (61-56) with five minutes still to play. A three-pointer from Anderson stretched the score in favor of the home team (68-60). It seemed all was lost, but Gardner’s free throw put the Spar up by four and, immediately afterwards, a huge triple by Araújo shortened the score (69-67) with five seconds remaining. But it was too late for miracles. Anderson, also from the free throw, has finished placing the definitive 70-67.
Tribute to Maria Planas
Before the start of the match, the pavilion of Juan Carlos Navarro has made a meaningful tribute to Maria Planasrecently included in the FIBA Hall of Fame. Former players Núria Martínez and Laia Palau, now sports directors of both teams, have given him gifts.
