Choque de pico y shovel and that the locals finally knew how to cook it better after the mistake in Malaga at the moment of truth. Unicaja finds its first bump of the course after the cupbearer ecstasy and those of Sito Alonso, with a huge McFadden, reap the ninth victory of the course.
Brizuela began to lead the setter’s attack, but the physical power of the Murcian inside men caused damage. Kravish was soon charged with two free kicks and also Sima. An 8-0 run with two consecutive triples from McFadden gave the first local income. Perry responded with a good 2+1, but Mc Fadden continued to do his thing. Another triple. (16-11). Traffic jam and lack of ideas from visitors. Problems in attack for the people from Malaga who did not see the hoop. Murcia stretched the lead with another triple from Trice (23-14). Mild reaction from the Andalusians with a 0-5 run (23-19), but Murcia left with a good income after another three-pointer from Trice (26-19).
Trice was still sweet and scored another triple in the same face as Alberto. Maximum for those of Sito Alonso (31-21). Unicaja increased the defensive piston and the locals no longer saw the hoop easily. A 1-7 run (32-28) got Ibon Navarro’s team back into the game despite not showing the freshness or energy of weeks ago. There, the UCAM Murcia put one more gear. He left behind his offensive problems and returned the partial 10-2. Two triples from Anderson and maximum income with 1:36 to go (42-30). Another call to order by Ibon Navarro who asked his team to wake up, but the defensive solidity and lack of outside success of the Malaga team stood out in that final stretch of the fourth (44-33).
The return to the changing rooms allowed us to see a more toned Unicaja and with good shots from Brizuela and Perry, although it faded as the minutes passed. The problem for the people from Malaga was that they couldn’t stop the physical power of the locals. In addition, the exchange of baskets favored UCAM Murcia. Those from Ibon wanted to lift the slab with 04:11 remaining. They were placed below ten points (57-49). Sima did damage in the paint, but McFadden reappeared with a 2+1 fundamentals (62-51). Those of Sito Alonso put the direct one just when Unicaja woke up. Loss by Kalinoski and triple by Jelinek (65-51). Dead time for the Andalusians and a slight reaction with a 0-4 run after Osetkowski’s three-pointer (65-55). Couldn’t cut any more. The Murcians, a quarter away from knocking down the Cup champion (67-55).
Unicaja did not want to throw in the towel. Two consecutive triples by Alberto Díaz and a 2-11 run woke up the nerves of UCAM Murcia. New match with eight minutes to go (67-62). Trice gave his team oxygen again with a triple at the buzzer, from nine meters. Right at the most critical moment (70-62). An unsportsmanlike attack on Osetwkoski and a technique after Sito again left the Malaga team within five (70-65). He could have gotten closer, but the American missed on two consecutive triples.
The time came McFadden with triples, assists and leadership. Air for Murcia (80-69). The competitive faith of the people of Malaga gave them an extra life. Partial from 0-7. Points from Alberto and a triple from Perry (80-76). End of heart attack in Murcia and with a Unicaja that had two shots to further tighten the score. Alberto Díaz missed them and the victory stayed at home (85-80).
Match tab:
85. UCAM Murcia Basketball Club (26+18+23+18): Bellas (-), McFadden (24), Anderson (8), Radovic (11) and Pustovyi (11) – the starting five – Trice (21), Luther (3), Sakho (-), Diop (4) and Jelínek (3), Rojas (-) and Andronikashvili (-).
80. Unicaja Malaga (19+14+23+24): Perry (18), Brizuela (13), Kalinoski (2), Thomas (4) and Kravish (-) -starting five-, Osetkowski (10), Ejim (-), Barreiro (5), Alberto Díaz (11), Carter (10) and Sima (7).
Referees: Miguel Ángel Pérez Pérez, Juan de Dios Oyón Cauqui and Alfonso Olivares Iglesias. They eliminated the visitor Kravish (m.40) for five personal fouls.
Incidences: Match corresponding to the twenty-fourth day of the Endesa Basketball League that was played at the Palacio de los Deportes in Murcia in front of 5,736 spectators.
