Zaragoza, Jan 29 (EFE).- Casademont Zaragoza took the duel in extra time to escape the burning that the lower zone of the table supposes after beating Real Betis who, with the victory, leaves two wins behind in the classification.
The Aragonese team prevailed in what was practically a final in the month of January against a direct rival for permanence like Betis because it allows them to continue out of relegation, put a slight advantage over the Verdiblanco team, which although it is not decisive, it is important given the low winning rate of both teams so far, as well as gaining an extra level of confidence, something tremendously important for a team that is in great need of it as a moral booster.
In addition to the victory and the small gap achieved, the triumph of Porfirio Fisac’s men also means gaining the ‘basketaverage’ (particular difference) in favor given that they also won in Seville, something not insignificant for the league final since in case From a tie to wins, the Andalusians would always be behind.
The team from Zaragoza seemed to have the game well on track as they came to win by 14 points in the 21st minute but it went from more to less, quite the opposite of Betis who grew after the break and had a ball to have won in regulated time , although he ended up succumbing because the team from Zaragoza was more serene and successful in extra time.
The Aragonese team sought to take advantage of their superiority in the paint through the Icelander Tryggvi Hlinason, who was unstoppable in the first quarter with 8 points, although the reply came from Betis Dairis Bertans with 6 from outside the area.
In the exchange of blows, the ‘rojillo’ team fared better, finishing the first set six up (24-18) thanks to its great success in two-point shots, its superiority in the inside game (with 18 of the 14 points scored inside) and his strength in rebounding that allowed him up to seven more shots than the Verdiblancos.
These, who had had a low percentage of success, saw how their lack of aim worsened in the second act (26%), something that was taken advantage of by Porfirio Fisac’s team to gradually increase the advantage in their favor until reaching the final. score the maximum in their favor, 12 points, upon reaching refreshment time (42-30).
The errors in easy baskets after the break by the locals, together with a 0-11 run in four minutes when the hands were winning by 14 points, got the Andalusians into the game (44-41) in minute 24 who, grown They managed to take the lead in the 26th minute (48-50) led by an excellent Tyson Pérez and entered the last quarter ahead (57-58) after a total quarter of 15-28.
A Betis grown by their comeback was ahead throughout the last quarter up to 5 points ahead but Casademont Zaragoza managed to tie with 23 seconds to go and the Andalusians were not able to score their last option so the game went to the extension.
In it, the Verdiblanco team seemed to wrinkle at times against a Casademont who got rid of his fears and who knew how to play better than his rival led with great success by Stefan Jovic, who was key in extra time.
– Datasheet:
89 – Casademont Zaragoza (24+18+15+19+13): Jovic (13), Wright (3), Jessup (7), Simanic (9), Hlinason (14) – starting five – Yusta (15), Ponitka (3), Mara (7), Cruz (14) and Sant-Roos (4).
82 – Real Betis (18+12+28+18+6): Pozas (6), Bertans (11), Johnson (12), Tyson Pérez (20), Gerun (16) -starting five- Maronka (-), Cvetkovic (3), Gray (5), Tsalmpouris (4), Almazán (-) and Txemi Urtasun (5).
Referees: Pérez Pizarro, Serrano and González. Johnson (m.45) was excluded for personal reasons.
Incidents: match corresponding to the eighteenth day of the League played in the Príncipe Felipe de Zaragoza pavilion before 6,236 spectators.