He Sant Antoni Basketball Class keep winning in the play-off for promotion to the LEB Oro. Portmany’s team beat CB L’Horta Godella this Saturday (64-65), after an intense match played in Valencia and with a great comeback from the Ibizans. The second leg will be played next Saturday at the Sa Pedrera Pavilion (8 pm) with everything to be decided. The tie to complete the pass to the semifinals is completely open.
He began by leading the Godella, surrounded by a noisy brass band. The initial 6-0, with two consecutive triples by De Larrea, did not discourage a team from Pitiuso who turned the tables with a partial 0-9. The Pitiusos, supported by about 150 enthusiastic followers in the stands, did not take long to present their credentials. Three free throws from captain Jordi Grimau put the islanders ahead (6-9).
Based on a tough and dedicated defense, a hallmark of the San Antonians throughout the season, the team coached by David Barrio grew. It also helped that the Valencian block was not successful in the shot, also made difficult by the work of the visitors. Olaizola pulled one back for the locals (8-9), but a new push from Class put the visitors into orbit. Another 0-7 partial, with points from De la Rúa, Grimau and Uclés, left the score at 9-16. At the end of the first quarter, the Pitiusa squad won 15-20.
At the beginning of the second act, the Ibizans torpedoed the waterline of the Godella again. It was with a triple by Iglesias, which established the score at 15-23. It was the greatest advantage of Barrio’s team, who were tremendously committed and playing very good and effective basketball. The locals couldn’t find a way to get their hands on Sant Antoni. The ring closed on Godella and Barrio’s team remained very strong. Two free kicks from Uclés made it 19-27, forcing the Levantine coach, Gustavo Lamas, to call a timeout.
Godella came out on top in the third quarter
After the break, Lucas Marí came to the rescue of his team, with high-quality baskets. But Sant Antoni remained firm and whole. With better defense, Godella got closer to six points (24-30), but Barrio did not want any scares and called for time. At the start, a 2-1 by De Larrea tightened things up to 27-30, but a new triple from the San Antonians once again kept the brave local team at bay (27-33). The scoreboard did not move again until half-time, which was reached with a small advantage for Portmany’s team.
Godella pushed hard in the third quarter. The shots that didn’t go in before the Valencians did convert this time. That, together with Class’s drop in play, made it possible for Godella to turn the game around. A triple by Rivas at the buzzer rounded off the brilliant quarter for the locals (53-41). The islanders were touched, but not sunk.
In the last period, the San Antonians tried to recover the disadvantage, but Godella remained very firm. The bad actions of the visitors, together with questionable refereeing decisions, kept the Valencians away (58-45). But then, the Class gritted his teeth back and found his lost faith. A 0-4 partial was the first victory (58-49). The locals called a timeout with almost seven minutes remaining in the match, but Sant Antoni continued to grow, with Da Silva doing a lot of damage under the rings. With one 1+1 from the center the Pitiusos got within three (58-55). However, Godella reacted with a triple from Strikker (61-55). There were three heart-stopping minutes left.
In that final stretch, Barrio’s team gave their all, despite the fact that players like Mollgaard and Iglesias had been left out injured. Not even those inconveniences prevented the Ibizans from taking the lead when everything seemed lost. They reached the last seconds 61-65, but a triple by De Larrea from home established the final 64-65. Everything remains open for the return, but the dream of Class Sant Antoni is still very much alive.
2024-04-27 19:07:33
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