Soriano shines in Obradoiro's victory against Lleida

The Monbus Obradoiro secured a hard-fought victory against iLERNA Lleida in a match characterized by constant equality and plot twists in the decisive moments. The Galician team, led by the Dominican Joel Soriano with 22 points, 9 rebounds, and a valuation of 25, resolved a game of high intensity that could have gone into overtime if Darius McGhee had not missed a driving shot in the final seconds.

Initial Dominance and Control in the First Half

The match began with a tone of balance that would last for much of the game. The Monbus Obradoiro found offensive solutions through the paint, where Soriano was a standout from the start. The Galicians took advantage of their interior strengths to build a small lead that allowed them to go into halftime with a score of 50-43, even though iLERNA Lleida remained in the game thanks to McGhee's free throw points and individual plays.

Diego Epifanio did not need timeouts to maintain control, although the intensity gradually increased. After halftime, both teams raised their competitive level. The exchange of baskets kept the home team ahead on the scoreboard (61-51 in the 24th minute), but an unfavorable 0-5 run in just three minutes generated unease on the Galician bench.

Lleida's Comeback and the Final Duel

The match entered its most decisive phase with Monbus Obradoiro holding an eleven-point lead (71-60, min.31). iLERNA Lleida needed more accuracy from the perimeter, as neither McGhee nor Batemon had scored in the third quarter. The visitors relied on offensive rebounds, a weapon that Gerard Encuentra was trying to enhance to make a comeback.

However, the Galician team again suffered from an offensive blackout that allowed iLERNA Lleida to hit with a 2-11 run. Despite the visiting coach's attempts to stem the local momentum with timeouts, an offensive foul called on Batemon frustrated Encuentra's plans. The following minutes were marked by maximum equality, with a three-pointer from Batemon that reduced the Obradoiro lead to just one point (80-79).

Soriano came to the rescue for his team with five consecutive points that restored the lead (85-81). The match had turned into a personal duel between the Dominican and Ejim, who responded with a '2+1' move. McGhee had the chance to complete the comeback with a three-pointer, but he missed. Barrueta temporarily eased the pressure for his team (87-84), although the tension remained at its peak.

The Last Seconds and McGhee's Miss

With 32 seconds left on the clock, Barcello's three-pointer was rejected by the rim. On the fast break, Mikel Sanz tied the game. The home team had nine seconds left to avoid overtime. Childress found Soriano, who forced two free throws that he confidently converted. McGhee then had the final opportunity with a drive, but his miss sealed the victory for Monbus Obradoiro with a final score of 91-89.

The Galician team rounded out its lineup with Agada (12 points), Barcello (7), Leo Meindl (11), Alejandro Galán (11), Childress (7), Abogidi (2), Sergi Quintela (2), Dos Anjos (10), Barrueta (5), and Alonso Faure (2). For iLERNA Lleida, McGhee was the top scorer with 23 points, followed by Mikel Sanz with 15. Batemon contributed 12, Ejim 10, Paulí 7, García 3, Perrin 8, Hughes 6, and Kuath 5.

Dominance of La Laguna Tenerife in Murcia

In another match of the day, La Laguna Tenerife imposed its superiority on the court of UCAM Murcia Club Baloncesto, winning 90-77 in a game where they dominated from start to finish. The Brazilian Marcelinho Huertas, at 43 years old, delivered a masterclass with 19 points and a valuation of 24 in just 22 minutes and 41 seconds of play.

The visitors were ahead from the start, reaching a 5-14 lead after a three-pointer from Arturs Kurucs, an ex-university player and a new addition to the yellow team this season. The UCAM Murcia coach called a timeout, but his team improved on offense and adjusted their defense, closing the quarter just three points behind (13-16).

Bruno Fitipaldo, with two consecutive three-pointers, re-opened the gap to nine points (15-24). Jean-Marc Pansa, the French pivot, caused damage in the paint, bringing the Murcians closer (20-24), but La Laguna's better collective play allowed them to constantly extend their lead. Marcelinho Huertas reappeared with a three-pointer and a free throw after a technical foul on Sito Alonso, reaching a +14 (28-42).

At halftime, La Laguna Tenerife went up 33-44. The second half was more competitive after Juani Marcos left the game due to discomfort (having played only six minutes), allowing the Murcians to increase their intensity. Kyle Guy and Héctor Alderete created definitive distance with five and four consecutive points, respectively, leaving the Canarians down 63-77 with five minutes left. Pansa's ejection at 3:54 remaining (65-80) practically sealed the match.

The Tenerife team featured Fitipaldo (12), Guy (15), Van Beck (4), Abromaitis (5), Happ (2), Jaime Fernández (7), Alderete (4), Hunter (16), Doornekamp (3), and Kurucs (3). UCAM Murcia presented Forrest (8), Ennis (14), Raieste (4), Nakic (5), Cate (12), Sant-Roos (4), Radebaugh (8), Falk (7), and Pansa (13).

Hard-Fought Victory for Surne Bilbao Against Burgos

In Bilbao, Surne Bilbao achieved a hard-earned victory against Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos (96-87) in a very balanced match where the locals had to grind to overcome the resistance of an opponent that equalized a 12-point deficit in the last quarter.

The home team found a good performance from Darling in the second quarter to extend the lead to +5 on two occasions (28-23 and 33-28), but the visitors responded immediately both times. At halftime, a minimal visitor advantage was maintained (44-45) that hardly continued in the first two minutes after the restart.

Surne Bilbao struck first from the perimeter with two three-pointers from Petrasek, another from Normantas, and one more from Font, opening a +12 gap (66-54, min.26) that seemed to set them on the path to victory. However, San Pablo Burgos did not give up, clinging to the match with Audige, Steward, and especially with the drive of Doumbouya, managing to level the score (85-85) with 3:07 remaining following a '2+1' move from Radosavljevic.

A new match then opened, which Ponsarnau's team resolved driven by Miribilla. Surne Bilbao did not succumb to the rival's reaction and relied on quality with Frey and two more three-pointers from Normantas and Hilliard that delivered the final blow to a Burgos team that drowned on the shore. The Bilbao team completed their roster with Krampelj (13), Hlinason (9), Darling (9), Font (5), and Somogyi (8). San Pablo Burgos presented Steward (12), Samar (4), Taboada (4), Dani Díaz (9), Koprivica (12), Audige (7), Radosavljevic (11), Doumbouya (15), Sengfelder (6), and Lobaco (7).

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Soriano brilla en la victoria del Obradoiro ante el Lleida