La Laguna (Tenerife) (EFE).- Lenovo Tenerife won the FIBA Intercontinental Cup this Sunday, for the third time in its history, by defeating Brazilian Sao Paulo 68-89 in the final in a match that dominated the team canary, but that did not end up deciding until the last quarter.
A triple by Aaron Doornekamp and another followed by Bruno Fitipaldo when Sao Paulo was pushing forward were decisive for the victory to stay on the Island, since it went from 57-67 to 57-75, a difference that, after With two minutes to go, it was very difficult for the rival to come back.
In any case, Lenovo Tenerife made more than enough merits to achieve victory and this title, which they already won in 2017 after defeating Guaros de Venezuela and in 2020, Virtus de Bologna.
Festival of triples in the first quarter by both teams that suggested that the game was going to be a high-scoring game. Four triples out of six attempts for Sao Paulo (66 percent) and 5 out of nine for Lenovo Tenerife (55 percent), but at the end of the first quarter the advantage went to the island team, which dominated the rebound more and took advantage of the second options to score. 19-25 for a Lenovo Tenerife where the management was failing, mainly from Marcelinho Huertas who couldn’t get into the game.
In the second quarter, Txus Vidorreta decided to reinforce the inside game by putting three “greats” on the field -Shermadini, Abromaitis and Doornekamp-, and that allowed him to maintain control of the rebound. It was already difficult to score from outside, but Tenerife had managed to improve in defense and rebounding, with which they were able to control the differences in the score against an opponent stuck in attack.
Despite everything, Sao Paulo always remained in the game with merit actions by Da Silva and Sousa, who, although they were well supported, like Miller, did not miss their chances to score and keep their team in the game at reach the break (35-43).
The third quarter was decisive for the victory of the match. Fitipaldo took command of the clash, both in the direction and in the scoring to take advantage up to 22 points (41-63) with two minutes remaining in the third quarter.
Sao Paulo returned to the charge at the beginning of the third quarter with a very inspired Coelho in attack and scoring twelve almost consecutive points. Sao Paulo came within ten points (57-67), but a three-pointer from Doornekamp and another from Fitipaldo ended the chances of a Sao Paulo team that fought until the end.
– Datasheet:
68 – Sao Paulo (19+16+18+15). Corazza (3), Bennett (6), Silva (9), Miller (7), Da Silva (13) –initial-, Coelho (18), Sousa (12), Siewert (-).
89 – Lenovo Tenerife 89 (25+18+22+24). Gardens (9), Salin (15), Tailor (3), Doornekamp (13), Shermadini (12) – initial-, Fernandez (7), Fitipaldo (15), Diagne (2), Rodriguez (-), Abromaitis (2). 4), War (6) and Cook (3).
Referees: Anaya Freile (PAN), Beker (AUS), Salins (LAT). They indicated technique to the coach of Sao Paulo, Bruno Mortari, (min.30).
Incidents: Final of the FIBA Intercontinental Cup that is being played in the Santiago Martín de Tenerife Sports Pavilion, before some four thousand people. A minute’s silence was observed in respect for the victims of the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria. EFE