Baxi Manresa fell to Unicaja and debuted with defeat in the Endesa League playoffs, although it left a very good image at the Martín Carpena. Pedro Martínez’s team will receive the Andalusians at the Nou Congost next Tuesday (8:30 p.m.) in a duel that will be life or death, since the quarterfinal series is played in the best of three games and another defeat would get out of the fight for the title.
Based on what was seen this Thursday, Manresa fans have reason to trust in being able to equalize the series, since Baxi Manresa played against the best team in the regular league, and even entered the last quarter ahead in the scoreboard, deflating only in those last minutes when Unicaja tightened the screws and forced many turnovers from its rival –Manresa finished with 23–.
It was an intense and attractive match, in which 21 of the 23 players who stepped onto the court scored, confirming the beautiful choral battle that took place. The Bages team showed excellent outside shooting and with a 14 of 31 shooting from three they were able to stay engaged in the duel until the final stretch. Devin Robinson, with 15 points, was the visitors’ top scorer, while Kalinoski, with 11, led the locals. / Drafting
