FIATC Girona dropped an 81-79 decision to Szolnoki in Hungary after surrendering a 16-point lead and getting outscored 11-1 during the final three minutes of regulation. diariidegirona.cat reported that Moncho Fernández’s side controlled the contest for nearly 37 minutes before a late offensive collapse handed the hosts the victory on a decisive three-pointer by Barnes with 30 seconds remaining.
How the 16-Point Lead Evaporated in Hungary
The visiting side built an early cushion behind an accurate perimeter attack, establishing a 17-7 start and pushing the margin to 48-32 by halftime. Szolnoki responded early in the second period with a 6-0 run that trimmed the gap to 23-28 and forced Moncho Fernández to call a timeout. Although the hosts improved on the boards and caused discomfort, Girona overcame the initial scare; with the score at 28-32, the visitors strung together an 0-8 run featuring important points from David N’Guessan and a three-pointer from Glas, followed by Whittaker’s third long-range shot making it 30-45 before a basket by Cseh sent the teams to the locker room at 34-48, with Girona shooting 8-of-18 from deep against the hosts’ 3-of-12 and Whittaker leading the visitors with eleven points. After the break, however, Szolnoki increased its defensive intensity. Brantley and Cseh spearheaded a steady reduction of the deficit, slowly eroding a lead that still stood at 70-78 with three minutes left on the clock.
Offensive Stagnation Down the Stretch
Girona missed key opportunities to salt away the game as shooting percentages plummeted in the closing stages. Glas and Sergi Martínez failed to convert critical possessions, while the team’s once-reliable outside touch vanished entirely. diariidegirona.cat noted that an 8-0 run by the hosts tied the score at 78-78 before Barnes connected from beyond the arc. A late free throw by Whittaker and an offensive rebound gave Jassel a final look from two points to force overtime, but the shot missed its target. As the home side applied greater aggressiveness after halftime, a triple by Brantley cut the margin to 48-56, and N’Guessan later provided crucial support by scoring to make it 51-60 and finishing a dunk that restored a twelve-point cushion at 55-67, though Cseh answered with a triple at the end of the third period for 58-67. Jassel opened the final quarter with a triple for 58-70, and after Szolnoki closed the gap to 68-73 prompting another timeout from Moncho Fernández, a triple by Stenionis and a drive by Whittaker allowed Girona to breathe at 70-78 before the decisive collapse.
Fatigue and Roster Shortages Take a Toll
The demanding weekly schedule compounded the late-game struggles for the Spanish club. Girona arrived in Hungary following a high-intensity ACB league victory over Joventut on Sunday, departing in the early hours of Tuesday with minimal recovery time. Head coach Moncho Fernández also opted to leave Mac McClung off the travel roster, resting the guard for this European assignment.
