Unicaja conquers its nineteenth Copa de Andalucía

Unicaja conquered its nineteenth Copa de Andalucía this Saturday after resolving the final at the Municipal Palace of Sports in Vista Alegre, Córdoba, with a resounding 86-61 against Insolac Caja 87. The Malaga team showcased its superiority from the very beginning, controlling the pace of the game and almost sealing the contest in the first quarter. It was a solid performance that allowed Unicaja to add a new title to its regional honors, with particular prominence from Brazdeikis in scoring and rebounding.

Demolishing Start by Unicaja

An initial three-pointer from Melwin Pantzar set the tone for an overwhelming start by the Malaga team. The defensive intensity and exterior accuracy sustained a 10-2 run that put Caja 87 in trouble from the very first minute. Jonathan Barreiro was key in that initial phase, displaying an aggression that the Seville team could not counter. Tyson Pérez extended the lead with a 2+1 (15-5), and Nihad Djedovic closed the first quarter with another 2+1 that left the score at 23-11. The twelve-point difference after the first ten minutes indicated that the final was leaning in favor of the Malaga team.

Unicaja continued its dominance in the second quarter through quick transitions and the combined precision of Brazdeikis and Pantzar, who increased the advantage to eighteen points (33-15). Amine Noua added two free throws that brought the lead to twenty (37-17), a chasm in a regional competition. However, it was then that Caja 87 found its best moments, with two consecutive three-pointers from Latorre that reduced the deficit to eleven points (39-28) and rekindled hope among the Seville supporters who had traveled to Córdoba.

Stopped Reaction and Malaga Control

Caja 87's reaction was cut short with a 2+1 from Cameron Hunt at the buzzer (43-28) that closed the first half. The script repeated itself after halftime, where the aggression of Barreiro and Brazdeikis near the basket restored confidence to Unicaja (49-30). A three-pointer from Simonas Lukosius amplified the maximum difference at that moment (56-35), although Caja 87 responded with two consecutive three-pointers from Nacho Arroyo that kept the Sevillian hopes alive. The intervention of Willy Hernangómez and Djedovic restored the twenty-point advantage before closing the third quarter at 65-45, which practically sealed the result.

The fourth period confirmed the Malaga dominance as Unicaja raised the lead to twenty-three points right from the start (72-49). The maximum difference came shortly after, with a run of 83-58 (+25) where Kendrick Perry became the main scoring reference with two three-pointers during that stretch. The final minutes allowed both coaches to continue giving playing time to their rosters, with the result already defined in favor of the Malaga team.

Brazdeikis Shines in the Final

Brazdeikis was named MVP of the tournament after an outstanding performance that allowed him to accumulate fifteen points, eight rebounds, and an evaluation of eighteen. His presence in the paint and ability to finish in transitions made him the standout player of a final that also marked the debut of Pantzar, Hernangómez, and Noua with Unicaja. The Malaga forward completed a solid performance with seven points, while Perry contributed eleven from beyond the arc. Barreiro added nine points in a defensive line that stifled the offensive attempts of Caja 87.

For Caja 87, the top scorers were Ramón Vilá with nine points, followed by Aanen Moody, Archange Izaw, and Nacho Arroyo, each with eight points. Despite the effort in the final stretches of the second and throughout the third quarter, the Seville team could not find the necessary consistency to pose a real threat to Unicaja, which set the pace of the game from the start.

Final Statistics

Unicaja closed the final with scores of 23+20+22+21, demonstrating offensive stability in all quarters. The Malaga starting lineup consisted of Pantzar, Perry, Brazdeikis, Barreiro, and Kravish, with significant contributions from the bench by Alberto Díaz, Tyson Pérez, Lukosius, Djedovic, Noua, and Hernangómez. Caja 87 posted scores of 11+17+17+16, with Cecilia, Moody, Webster, Djedovic, and Izaw in the starting five, and Soumbey, Mendikote, Vilá, Latorre, Arroyo, Franch, and García completing the rotation. The twenty-five points difference in the maximum lead reflects the superiority demonstrated by Unicaja in a final that solidified its position as a benchmark in Andalusian basketball.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Unicaja conquista su decimonovena Copa de Andalucía