Endesa League: Obradoiro defeats Lleida in a thrilling match

The Monbus Obradoiro completed a day of maximum intensity at the Multiusos Fontes do Sar in front of 5,204 spectators, defeating iLERNA Lleida 91-89 in a match corresponding to the third round of the Liga Endesa. Joel Soriano, a Dominican with 22 points and a valuation of 25, was the offensive and defensive reference for a Galician team that suffered too much to certify the success against a rival that was close to achieving an epic comeback.

The overwhelming start of Obradoiro and McGhee's entry

Santiago began with a devastating run of 11-2 that forced Gerard Encuentra, coach of iLERNA Lleida, to call for his first timeout midway through the first quarter. The visiting team was accumulating shooting errors, some completely open, while the Monbus Obradoiro controlled the rhythm with ease. However, that tranquility was disrupted when Darius McGhee, an American with Armenian citizenship, entered the scene tearing apart the Galician defense from the three-point line.

McGhee made four three-pointers in just over five minutes, two of them from long distances and one spectacular shot just before the buzzer that galvanized iLERNA Lleida. His contribution was crucial for the Lleida team to achieve their first lead (22-24) at the start of the second quarter, following another three-pointer from Hughes from the corner. The match turned into a battle of tempos where the visiting team found their resources in offensive pressure and individual basketball.

Intermediate control and defensive intensity

The Monbus Obradoiro, loaded with fouls, found solutions to their offensive stagnation by heading into the paint, where their pivots provided consistent options. This allowed Diego Epifanio's team to play with small advantages on the scoreboard until halftime (50-43), although iLERNA Lleida was accumulating points from the free throw line and through individual actions from McGhee, who emerged as the main reason for keeping Lleida's hope alive.

After the halftime break, both teams considerably raised their level of intensity. The Santiago team quickly racked up four fouls in just a minute and a half, while iLERNA Lleida amassed three in two minutes. The exchange of baskets kept the Galician team ahead on the scoreboard (61-51 at minute 24) until a 0-5 run in three minutes alarmed Epifanio, who called for a timeout to reorganize his players.

The final quarter: relative dominance and a visitor comeback

The match entered the decisive final quarter with an eleven-point lead for Monbus Obradoiro (71-60, min.31). iLERNA Lleida needed more points from their perimeter players to come back, but McGhee and Batemon did not score in the third quarter, forcing the visiting team to rely on their offensive rebounding. However, the Galician defense collapsed in the final minutes when Obradoiro again went cold on offense.

The visiting team struck with a 2-11 run that put the match back in the balance. Diego Epifanio held off calling a timeout, but an offensive foul called on Batemon frustrated Gerard Encuentra because his team had wasted the first opportunity to equalize. The equality returned to be maximum, and this time the home coach did stop the game because iLERNA Lleida was unleashed on offense, looking for any opportunity to take the game.

The epilogue: Soriano seals the drama in the final seconds

A three-pointer from Batemon left the Obradoiro lead at just one point (80-79), but Dominican Joel Soriano came to the rescue of his team with five consecutive points that restored some order (85-81). The match turned into a particular duel between Soriano and Ejim, who repeated the '2+1' of the Monbus Obradoiro pivot. McGhee had a three-pointer to complete the Catalan comeback, but he missed, and Barrueta provided breathing room for his team (87-84).

Encuentra called a timeout, but Ejim missed a three-pointer and Agada missed two free throws to maintain the uncertainty. The former player of iLERNA Lleida made up for it later with a good layup. Another stoppage from the visiting coach, misses from Ejim and Agada from the three-point line, and a three-pointer from Batemon left the score at 88-87. There were 32 seconds left when the rim rejected Barcello's three-pointer, and in the counter-attack, Mikel Sanz tied it at 89.

The home team had nine seconds left to avoid overtime. Childress found Soriano, who forced two free throws that he did not miss, making it 91-89. McGhee had the ball to send the game into overtime but missed on penetration, and Monbus Obradoiro achieved their second victory of the season in a game where defense and nerves played a fundamental role.

The Monbus Obradoiro finished with 91 points (22+27+20+22), led by Soriano with 22 points. Agada contributed 12, Leo Meindl 11, and Alejandro Galán 11. iLERNA Lleida closed with 89 points (21+22+17+29), with McGhee as the top scorer with 23 points and Mikel Sanz with 15. The match was officiated by Jordi Aliaga, Iyán González, and Rubén Sánchez Mohedas.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Liga Endesa: Obradoiro le gana al Lleida un duelo de infarto