For the comeback and the epic for the boys, for the solvency for the girls. The two minibasketball teams reached the semifinals of the Spanish Championship in different ways in an afternoon full of emotion. Especially in the first match, in which the men’s team rallied Andalusia by 13 points: from 55-68 to the final 74-73. Later, the girls beat Aragón 85-51 after dominating almost the entire game by a margin of close to 20 points. Photos: FEB / Rocío Benítez.
Group stage
QUARTER FINALS
MONDAY, APRIL 3
Mini masculine
Madrid 74 – Andalusia 73
The match started well for the team, with triple sebastian tejo and an 8-2 after four minutes of play, but Andalucía did not take long to react. Shortly after, they got within one point (8-7) and immediately caught up with Madrid (11-11), who could only win the first period by a minimum of 14-13 thanks to the triple of Sergio Coto. It was clear: the quarterfinal clash was a very demanding match, and this was confirmed by the evenly matched second period, which ended with a 10-13 run and an Andalusian advantage on the scoreboard (24-26). The Andalusian stretch continued in the third despite the attempt of a team that kept up the rhythm, but which lacked success against the rival defense. Instead, Antonio Ruiz made it 25-34 from afar causing the dead time of Fernando Sendino. The reaction was immediate (big basket of Sergio Carbayo!), but not enough to avoid the 33-39 break.
The team went one step further and the scoreboard thanked it with a 7-0 (40-39) run that was a momentary advantage because the game was already a full-fledged battle between two teams with no room for error. In a match of streaks, the Andalusians found theirs (0-9) to regain control and close the fourth period with 42-51. The distance remained in the fifth (46-56 at 4:52) despite the efforts of the team. With 55-64 there were still eight minutes left to look for the comeback, a feat that became even more complicated with the -13 (55-68). We had to take risks and the minis, driven in attack by antonio martinez (16 points), they did the cry of “If possible!”. In just four minutes they got to one (67-68 at 3:40)… and the streak continued (11-0) to turn the score around. Andalusia reacted on time and at 3:14 the game was in a draw (69-69). In that final sprint, the team had one more hit point, a point that is worth the semifinals.
Mini feminine
Madrid 85 – Aragon 51
A tough opponent was also waiting for the women’s team. Aragón confirmed it in the first quarter, which was scored 9-10. But the players of Paula Dominguez they did not want scares and started the second with an 8-0 run that served to take distance. The free kick scored by the Aragonese was just a parenthesis in a partial of clear Madrid dominance. The gap opened up to +12 (23-11) before another point (another free kick) that barely changed anything because the team had found its game, especially Alexandra Louw (12 points), and closed the second period with a clear 30-15. However, Aragón was not going to give up so soon. The Aragonese sought a comeback and demanded a team that knew how to respond and five minutes before the break kept the lead (35-20). Oki Omoruyi, Natalia Soria y Lourdes Martin they had taken over the scoring while behind the collective work. With the machinery at full capacity, the distance grew to 49-29 at halftime.
The second half began with a 0-3 scoreline that confirmed Aragonese resistance. However, the theft of Among Adadeji cleared up the few doubts that might remain. The selection conceded few points and in front maintained the effectiveness. The fourth period ended with 55-37 after the basket of the Aragonese Ana Garcia, an important margin, but that did not allow confidence. We had to continue competing because the effort of the Aragonese women kept the match alive and the difference below twenty points (58-42). Natalia Soria y Lourdes Martin they widened the margin, and the 64-44 with which they finished the fifth, again in the twenties, gave more peace of mind. In the last one, the team did not slow down and in the last minutes, with everything already decided, the distance grew until the final 85-51.
