Unicaja transfers its euphoria to its league debut

Unicaja defeated Bàsquet Girona (90-73) this Saturday at the start of the Endesa League season, extending its brilliant start to this campaign, which began by winning the Intercontinental Cup and the Super Cup, a league debut that was also victorious for Joventut, BAXI Manresa and Dreamland Gran Canaria.

Ibon Navarro’s team showed their state of euphoria in another afternoon of joy at the Martín Carpena, with a serious first League match, where they led from the first quarter (19-10), after the display of the banners for the titles in the pavilion.

Tyson Pérez was the best of the game (11 points, 7 rebounds, 22 PIR), but Tyson Carter and Alberto Díaz also shined. The set-up for a course that began with titles at stake and the rush to recover from the wear and tear of winning them, always kept the people of Malaga one step ahead.

Furthermore, Joventut upset a UCAM Murcia team that clearly lost (91-76) largely due to the duo formed by Kassius Robertson (25 points and 28 rating) and Ante Tomic (24). Those from Badalona dominated from the beginning and also had the final blow in the last quarter, making a difference in the rebound.

Sito Alonso’s team reacted before the break, with Rodions Kurucs and Dylan Ennis, but in the third quarter, with his expulsion for a double technical, ‘Penya’ escaped again. The League runner-up thus started the new season on the wrong foot, in which Dani Miret’s team hopes to once again be a top team.

Meanwhile, BAXI Manresa debuted with a hard-fought victory over Valencia Basket by 77-73, in the return of Pedro Martínez to the ‘taronja’ team and also to what had been his home until recently. Cameron Hunt (24 points) and Derrick Alston (20) were the offensive leaders of Bages, who withstood the reaction of a Valencia where Ojeleye and Montero tried.

In addition, Dreamland Gran Canaria also celebrated a victorious start to the League, beating MoraBanc Andorra (71-91). The yellow team besieged the locals with a team victory in which six players scored in double figures, with the last quarter being lethal (13-29).