Breogán dominates Mega Basket in their debut

The Breogán River concluded its third day of preseason with a convincing victory against KK Mega Basket. The team from Lugo won 99-90 at the Pazo dos Deportes in front of a crowd that witnessed a high-quality match where Luis Casimiro's team showcased the identity they have been working on throughout the summer. With this win, the celestials have accumulated three victories in as many preparation games, having previously defeated Sporting of Portugal (110-76) in Ribadeo and Real Madrid (110-102) in Pontevedra.

An Overwhelming Start

The game began explosively for the home team. Breogán came out with speed and flair that left the Serbs without an initial reaction. In just three minutes, the celestials were already up 11-2, which forced Mega's coach, Vule Avdalovic, to call a timeout early to reorganize his team. The Serbian side, filled with young talents, managed to respond and close the gap to 17-13, but the outside shooting accuracy of the Lugo team was decisive in the first ten minutes. The celestials made five three-pointers in the first quarter, ending the initial act with a comfortable 25-15 lead that hinted at local dominance.

Mega Presses in the Second Quarter

The second part changed the pace of the game. The Serbs tightened their defense and showed much greater intensity than at the start. More seasoned than their rivals, they managed to close in to just one point on the scoreboard (31-30), prompting Casimiro to make adjustments to his team's playing system. Mega continued to lurk, with Lucic leading the charge, and just three minutes before halftime, they found themselves at 39-38. However, Josep Peris scored a crucial three-pointer and Francis Alonso closed the second quarter with a basket in the last three seconds, extending the lead again to 49-40 by halftime. The Málaga native Alonso showcased his scoring instinct with 14 points in the first half.

Total Dominance in the Second Half

The third quarter began again with Mega Basket trying to close the gap. The Serbian team was intense on the offensive boards and even came within two points. However, two consecutive three-pointers from Aranitovic, Bolton's defensive work, and the overall defensive solidity returned the game to its natural course. From that moment on, Breogán entered its best phase. The Lugo team displayed fluid offensive play, defensive seriousness, and a lead that soared to 73-54. The combination of high tempo and outside shooting, the identity that Casimiro has worked on throughout the preseason, was nearly impossible to contain.

The final quarter offered no surprises. A more competitive start from Mega Basket (4-10) briefly energized the Serbs, but Víctor Arteaga took center stage in the paint and caused damage in the close perimeter. The lead never fell below nine points, with scores of 85-76 and 94-83, until the final 99-90 that concluded a game without excitement in the last ten minutes.

Recognized Identity Without a Complete Squad

The highlight of this home debut is that Breogán managed to dominate all facets of the game even without a complete lineup. Mavra, Brankovic, and Kasibabu could not participate as they were with their national teams during the FIBA window. Ilić was also unavailable as he is still recovering. Despite these absences, the team continued to rely on what has been their hallmark this summer: outside shooting and a high-paced attack that leaves little room for opponents.

Casimiro has insisted on the same idea during these three preseason games, and it has worked for him each time. With the ACB still a distance away, what truly matters at this point in the season is that the team's identity is now clearly recognized. This is exactly what is expected of a team in September: a clear proposal, executed with conviction and positive results. The fans sent off their team with applause, aware that the team is moving in the right direction.

The next challenge for Breogán will be the semifinal of the Copa Galicia, where they will face Monbus Obradoiro. The competition will take place on Saturday and Sunday in Santiago, offering another opportunity to continue showcasing the level of play displayed so far in the preseason.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Breogán domina ante el Mega Basket en su estreno