Murcia thrashed Andorra and earned their third preseason victory

The UCAM Murcia concluded its preparation for the Liga Endesa with a new demonstration of offensive and defensive potential. The victory by 91-65 against MoraBanc Andorra in San Javier marks the third consecutive blowout for a team entering the domestic competition with solid arguments after also defeating Albacete by 43 points and Boca Juniors by 39. With just eleven days until the official start, the Murcia team showcases an enviable form that contrasts with the difficulties displayed by the Andorrans during this preparatory phase.

An Andorran start that crumbled

The game began with a completely different script from the final outcome. During the first quarter, MoraBanc Andorra took control of the match thanks to the dominance in the paint by Wesley Iwundu and Artem Pustovyi. Both interior players imposed their physicality and gave the Principality team the first advantages in the initial ten minutes, with direct basketball that surprised the Murcian defense in that early phase.

However, the second quarter marked the decisive turning point. Murcia found its scoring touch and executed a 28-15 run that allowed them to completely turn the scoreboard and head into halftime with a lead. Souley Boum was the main architect of this comeback, accumulating 15 points in a performance that demonstrated why he leads the scoring for the Murcian team throughout the preseason. His ability to generate points in transition and structured offensive play was key to breaking the initial resistance of the opponent.

Defense as the ultimate weapon

If the second quarter was important for the change of momentum, the third was decisive for one fundamental reason: defense. UCAM limited MoraBanc Andorra to just nine points in those ten minutes, transforming a lead into an insurmountable difference. It wasn't just a matter of their own scoring, but of defensive suffocation. With Michael Forrest taking charge of the Murcian attack, the offensive machine operated with precision while the defense progressively hardened.

Forrest finished as the top scorer of the game with 16 points and complemented his performance with nine assists, demonstrating his ability to lead the game from the perimeter. His direct matchup against Aaron Best, the top scorer for Andorra with 14 points and four assists, was the most interesting aspect of the clash from an individual perspective. Best tried to keep the Andorrans afloat, but the collective superiority of Murcia proved overwhelming.

Clear messages before the start

The final quarter added no excitement, only confirmation. Murcia did not take their foot off the gas and comfortably concluded the game 91-65, reaffirming the trend of these three preseason games. Boum and Forrest have been the undisputed offensive leaders in all three matches, providing clear references to the coach about who will be the pillars of the team when the official competition begins.

For UCAM, the messages are positive. The team faces a dual competition this season with the Liga Endesa and the Basketball Champions League, which will require considerable depth in the roster. The impeccable preseason suggests that the team is ready to meet this demand, with different offensive options and a defense that can be aggressive when needed.

Andorra looks to find its direction

The outlook for MoraBanc Andorra is less flattering. The team coached by Zan Tabak recently suffered a defeat in overtime against Barça in Encamp, and here they unraveled after a good start that they could not maintain. The roster is still in the process of being fully assembled after a summer of significant changes. Kostas Kostadinov was loaned out and Leon Radosevic arrived as a reinforcement, but the integration of these changes does not yet seem solidified.

With only days left until the official start of the competition, Andorra urgently needs practice and connections that are not yet reflected in the results. The game against Murcia evidenced that organized defenses can neutralize their offensive intentions, something that must be corrected quickly if they want to compete in the Liga Endesa. The Principality team has potential, but needs to find its rhythm and defensive identity before it is too late for the first official match.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Murcia arrolla al Andorra y suma su tercera victoria de pretemporada