The Joventut of Badalona, in a game that he has dominated from start to finish supported by his veterans, Ante Tomic and Pau Ribashas won its twenty-first victory in 32 games of the Endesa League and consolidates fourth position while UCAM MurciaClub Basketball, with this setback at home, becomes ninth and leaves the positions that give the right to play the knockout rounds by title.
The Catalans had Tomic as their offensive stiletto with 27 points and a PIR of 28 and Ribas appeared at the decisive moment for his team to finish off the job with a run of 8-20 in the last quarter. Jordan Davis, in granas, was the best with 21 points.
The first quarter was dominated by the black-and-green team, which started the match with a 2-10 lead in just three minutes. The intense defense of Carles Durรกn’s men made them command despite the fact that the UCAM CB reacted with the help of Davisauthor of seven points in the initial ten minutes.
Joventut, with Andrรฉs Feliz scoring eight goals, closed the period with six goals (17-23). The game, with a great atmosphere at the Palace, was played with a lot of tension from the start and in the second quarter two technical fouls were indicated in a row to the local coach, Sito Alonso, and his player Isaiah Taylor.
The Catalan team took advantage of these signals to open the lead (31-41) and, although UCAM CB tried to minimize damage before reaching the intermission, a triple over the buzzer scored by Joel Parra allowed Penya to go to the locker room with a +9 and showing their offensive potential with the prominence of many players (37-46).
Back on track with 39-46 and just one minute after the third quarter, the second technical foul on Taylor for simulating in an action in which there was contact motivated the elimination of the American base and left the university students without one of their great references.
From there and spurred on by what happened, the burgundy team, appealing to courage, got into the match with James Webb and Davis assuming more responsibility in attack. The consequence was that Murcia tied at 54 in the 27th minute and equality was maintained until the end of the quarter coinciding with a triple by Davis with the clock at zero (63-63).
Pau Ribas, pulling gallons, scored two triples that gave Joventut air again (63-71) and UCAM CB got stuck to the point that they went six minutes without scoring any points and even with Thad McFadden missing three free throws in a row that would have put the home team ahead for the first time. The lack of success at the premises was decisive at the moment of truth and a minute from the conclusion the 69-79 left the clash already sentenced.