Valencia Basket forces the tiebreaker against UCAM Murcia
The ‘orange’ team won at home to return the quarter-final ‘playoff’ to La Fonteta
MADRID, 22 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Valencia Basket beat UCAM Murcia (72-83) this Wednesday to equalize the quarterfinal playoff away from home and extend a disputed series that will be decided on Saturday in La Fonteta, a 1-1 where the team ‘ taronja’ jumped with the lesson learned.
Xavi Albert’s men came in strong and took advantage of UCAM’s wear and tear in the third quarter in search of a comeback to reach the outcome better. Brandon Davies (17 points), Stefan Jovic (13 and 9 assists) and Jaime Pradilla prevented Sito Alonso’s team from quickly reaching the first semifinal in their history.
With the ball in Valencia’s court, although far from home, the ‘taronja’ team jumped with the lesson learned from the 1-0 lead and took command from the start. Xavi Albert undoubtedly helped his team not to fall back into the ‘red’ tangle and found leaders like Jaime Pradilla and Stefan Jovic to keep the fuse lit.
At times, the Murcian Palace dreamed of repeating Saturday’s recital, due to the start of Sant-Ross and Ennis, but the losses did not take long to come and Valencia took the first quarter with authority (14-23). The visitors managed that good cushion until almost half-time, with the good contribution of Inglis and Davies.
UCAM’s defense did not work as expected by Sito Alonso who became desperate on the wing and the three-pointers did not help them go to war. All in all, the second quarter was a reaction for the locals to begin to understand the script of a match still to be decided at halftime (36-43). The locals bit in defense at the restart, especially stopping Jovic’s judgment, and found their rhythm in a quick transition.
The 11-2 partial confirmed the change of sensations on the hardwood, but Valencia also looked for solutions. Jared Harper doubled the bet on that rival speed and, with another drop in local success, the Valencian team once again dominated (50-57).
As soon as the intensity dropped a bit, Sito Alonso’s men suffered again, while the visitors were constant with Davies, dosed by fouls, and Pradilla. Valencia played their part and were forceful despite having to stop Chris Jones and Semi Ojeleye, who arrived physically injured for this match.
UCAM, which despite its performance in the first game is in this playoff without Simon Birgander and Marko Todorovic, finished 8 out of 38 with its percentage from three-point range and suffered its third defeat at home this season, two against the Taronja. ‘, without being able to tie their first League semi-final against the red tide.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: UCAM MURCIA, 72 – VALENCIA BASKET, 83. (36-43, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT.
UCAM MURCIA: Hakanson (5), Ennis (10), Sant-Ross (9), Sleva (12) and Diagné (6) –starting quintet–; Caupain (5), Radovic (10), Radebaugh (87), R.Kurucs (4), Flores (-), Morin (4).
VALENCIA BASKET: Jovic (13), López-Arostegui (2), Pradilla (14), Ojeleye (7) and Davies (17) –starting quintet–; Robertson, Puerto (2), Harper (8), Jones (3), Anderson (3), Claver (4), Inglis (10).
–PARTIALS: 14-23, 22-20, 22-18, 14-22.
–REFEREES: Pérez Pérez, Aliaga and García González. Davies fouled out.
–PAVILLION: Sports Palace of Murcia.
2024-05-22 20:55:16
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