MoraBanc Andorra continues to dream of salvation after winning after two tachycardia overtimes on the court of a Casademont Zaragoza (80-83), whose defeat puts them in a big mess ahead of the last league matchday. The whole of the Principality, in a confrontation that was practically a final for both, achieved a victory that was mandatory in order not to see their permanence options reduced almost to the minimum thanks to the fact that they went from less to more after the break. It was an essential victory to stay alive and reach the last day with more options to continue another year in the ACB.
On the other hand, for the Aragonese team, to whom the victory would have given them mathematical salvation, having fallen does not mean relegation but it does go to the last game with very diluted chances of being saved because if there is a tie in wins between several of the teams that struggle not to drop in category Casademont Zaragoza has the loser in most cases.
The defensive intensity of the Aragonese team put the attacks of the Andorran team in a lot of trouble from the beginning, which in just two minutes of play was seen with seven down on the scoreboard, although they knew how to react and reduce differences. In the last moments of the first quarter, the lack of foreign success (20% in field goals) allowed the owners of the field to gain distance again (18-12) although it seemed scarce considering the visitor’s mistake.
The start of the second set was very productive for Casademont Zaragoza, which posted ten points in the light (23-13) with a choral game and success in attack, especially in the paint, while Oscar Quintana’s team survived thanks to the success of Conor Morgan (8 points, with two triples), which allowed him to arrive with options at refreshment time (36-28).
The equality continued after the return of changing rooms with two teams delivered in defense but with many nerves in attack. The team from the Principality, again led by Morgan, tightened the differences and sent the game to the decisive quarter with only two points for Dragan Sakota’s men (50-48) and everything to decide, a game in ten minutes.
The errors in the free throws that Casademont had been dragging throughout the game (12 of 22 at the end of the fourth quarter) allowed the Andorran team, again with a great Morgan, to turn the score around but the locals, in a start of genius called and had a ball to win that Kilpatrick did not take advantage of.
Nerves presided over the two overtimes and caused numerous errors that alternately gave life to one and the other but always with the visitors ahead and that in the end ended up taking the game because they were somewhat more successful, just enough against a handy team that missed the opportunity to have sent the game to a new extension.