The Cazoo Baskonia successfully solved the visit this Tuesday of Alba Berlin to the Buesa Arenaon matchday 31 of the Regular Phase of the Euroleague, with a hard-fought victory (93-87) with which he left behind his bad run of results to hold on to the last of the positions that give access to the playoffafter a superb comeback in the second half of the clash.

In the absence of three days for the teams to enter the fight for one of the four tickets that lead to the Final four of kaunas, the team from Vitoria once again offered their best version to make up for their last three European defeats. The good work of Darius Thompson (21 points and 11 assists) and Maik Kotsar (23p and 10 rebounds) was enough to defeat a Teutonic team that resisted more than necessary.

The initial trial preceded a exchange of blows from which a Baskonia emerged victorious that he found in kotsar and Marinkovic to his perfect allies to tip the balance in the first moments. Although the German reaction arrived on time in the form of a three-pointer, the local effort was enough to close a frantic first quarter, albeit with a local color (25-24).

Those of Israel González took advantage of their positive inertia to prolong their success in a second quarter that began with a great triplet domain of the Germans. Also solid in defence, Baskonia had a hard time getting into a second ten minutes in which was unable to score, at least until halfway through the set. Even so, the appearance of Howard in attack allowed them to get closer, but not to come back, a second quarter that was for the visitors (44-48).

After the restart, the local reaction threatened to get back into a game that resumed with a high scoring rate and with the two sets launched in attack. Even so, Joan Peñarroya’s pupils knew how to close ranks in defense to stop the bleeding and little by little tie the game. In the end, a triple of giedraitis With three minutes to go, he began the path of a comeback that did not escape him in the entire third quarter (68-67).

With everything to be decided, the last ten minutes started with another offensive festival by the two teams. However, it was the appearance of Thompson from the line of three which restored hope to those from Vitoria-Gasteiz. Two consecutive triples from the American point guard were too much for an Alba who, although he resisted, was unable to control a Baskonia who simmered a final game in which he was always ahead.

Data sheet:

93 – Cazoo Baskonia (25+19+24+20): Thompson (21), Howard (11), Giedraitis (9), Hommes (5) and Kotsar (23) -starting five-, Heidegger (-), Raieste (-), Marinkovic (15), Enoch (-), Costello (9) and Kurucs (-).

87 – Alba Berlin (24+24+19+20): Lo (15), Smith (10), Olinde (10), Sikma (10) and Lammers (3) -starting five-, Procida (11), Wetzell (13), Matisseck (-), Schneider (-), Thiemann (2), Blatt (-), Koumadje (2) and Blatt (11).

Referees: Sasa Pukl (Slovenia), Luka Kardum (Croatia), Adar Peer (Israel). No deleted.

Source: Eitb

Kingston

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