ACB – semi-final – working day 1
UCAM did it again. As happened in the quarterfinals against Valencia, they surprised a powerful Unicaja at home at the Martín Carpena, leader of the ACB regular league and who is on the wire after a magnificent game in rebounding and defense.
UCAM Murcia, new to these payments, had a major challenge ahead of them, because they had lost the last six games against Unicaja de Málaga, the other candidate to be in the final of the Endesa League. If for the people from Murcia the desire was to beat, on a foreign court, a rival who has not given them a choice in recent times, for the people from Malaga, the question was to continue with the streak and not fall into the temptation of feeling superior because of the background.
In the first half, Murcia’s wishes were fulfilled more than Unicaja’s. Although the score did not go too far towards either side, it was Sito Alonso’s team that adapted most to the requirements of its coach, who ordered zone defense after a basket, to slow down the game of the Malaga team. Ibon Navarro lamented that his team were a bit soft in the first quarter, with no fouls against them despite Murcia’s 24 points, and he asked for a little more toughness from his players, who allowed Sleva to score with ease, two and a half. three, to become the most decisive player on his team in the second quarter. For Unicaja, Barreiro, with eight points, was the top scorer (8), but they were not enough to prevent UCAM from going into the break with an advantage on the scoreboard, despite the injury of Diagné, who retired to the locker room. although he returned in the second half, and the Murcians got into the bonus with more than eight minutes still to play.
Sito Alonso feared that in the second half his colleague Ibon Navarro’s team would pick up its usual rhythm, and that is why he continued trying to ensure that the game was not fluid as Málaga wanted. He half-managed to continue neutralizing his rival, because as soon as the second half began, he had to stop, ask for a time-out and make his players reflect, and midway through the third quarter they conceded a 14-5 run to Unicaja, who took the lead. four points ahead (50-46). The Madrid coach’s corrections managed to limit the damage and change the trend (50-53), after scoring seven points to none of the Malaga team.
Martín Carpena, with more than 10,000 fervent fans in the stands, witnessed a vibrant duel with blows exchanged on one side and the other, but Unicaja had the problem of dealing with the American Dustin Sleva, impeccable in the throw of field (5 of 5 in shots of 2), three of three in triples and that he only failed in free throws (2 of 4), although he made up for that double failure by collecting the rebound and scoring a triple. It was the biggest headache for the locals, in which Kalinoski tried to respond.
Murcia was still ahead, although without stretching the gap, so each Malaga push brought them closer, although Navarro’s men seemed to play in fits and starts. They managed to take the lead (71-69), with 7.15m left, and the game began to go crazy with the bombers of each team showing their best. Radeboug appeared with two consecutive triples to revitalize UCAM, who never lost their way again with an immeasurable defense, personalized in Morin, and their power in offensive and defensive rebounding, which pushed them towards victory.
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