the green giant

Unicaja has returned in style after an absolute revolution (12 casualties, 10 signings), as does a Cup that became gigantic in the 90s, the one with the eight hobbies, the one with the surprising alternatives, the one in which the powerful often knelt and the dreamers fulfilled their utopias. The one that saw seven different champions in a row between 1992 and 1998. The KO tournament is here again, Unicaja has recovered it with an unprecedented feat since the ACB format was introduced in 1984, because never before had a team eliminated Barça consecutively (87-89) and to Madrid (82-93).

This Unicaja has done it with the desire to regain lost time, to make the club’s laurels green again in the first decade of this century. He will play his fourth cup final (2005, 2009, 2020 and 2023), for his second title 18 years later after knocking out a Madrid that fell to the canvas with a crash. Bad start, even worse at the end, surpassed in the rebound (25 to 34) and with a very poor (again!) shooting card (3 of 21, 14%), somewhat bearable at times, unsustainable in the long run. So with Tavares and Deck charging the post as the only weapon it was not enough this time, and even less without a reference point guard, a loophole that can help you run off course through the cat flap to Chus Mateo. And even less with the centers from Malaga on fire from 6.75.

Those of Ibón Navarrothe coach from Vitoria is magnificent in assembling pieces in record time, they played with a fabulous energy waste without an interior powerful (Lima and his replacement, Sima, are out due to injury). It didn’t matter, they made up for it with passion and basketball, with mobility and shooting, with a David Kravish (five hairpieceglobetrotter of this) fabulous for the selection of the advantages and their execution (20 points with 11 shots and 3 blocks for a PIR of 24). Huge stretch of Osetkowski; very good kalinoski scoring from three, drawing the defense and passing… Good times from Tyson Carter, Djedovic, Will Thomas; and Kendrick Perry on a grayer day in Brizuela, plus the selfless work behind Alberto Díaz and Barreiro. A block in search of its destiny, and it was noticed. A historic final for how it has been incubated.

David Kravish celebrates his memorable performance.

Enlarge

David Kravish celebrates his memorable performance.RODOLFO MOLINADiaryAS

Ibon Navarro came to say in the preview that the duel was going to go for the rebound, so Tavares conditioned things. And at halftime, there Unicaja won (18, with 8 offensive, to 16). On the scoreboard, tie. Edy was still differential (three starting blocks and several more shots changed, six white hats at halftime), but the green revolution made up for it. Kravish punished with shooting, speed and good 2×2.

Unicaja did two things very well: they held the favorite in scoring and, in turn, went out in transition whenever they could, a difficult mix to combine, although the eight meringue losses (five own recoveries) made it easier for them. And he also added aim, a fourfold equation, including rebounds, fantastic for his interests. And it is that in the middle part he signed a remarkable 6 of 15 of three (still got better afterwards: 14 of 27, 52%).

And Madrid? Yes, back in the day denied in the triple, a pressing problem: 1 of 10 and 2 of 11 in each part. And despite everything (also less than half the assists), he equaled 39 and beat in efficiency by 51 to 34. The reason, that verticality and strength to face the basket that led him to an impressive 12 of 14 from two and to shoot 15 free throws. Sustenance of Real in a bad start.

Tyson Carter passes the ball in front of the Yabusele defense.

Enlarge

Tyson Carter passes the ball in front of the Yabusele defense.RODOLFO MOLINADiaryAS

Things got worse in the restart against the green tide, that of Unicaja with the support of the local fans, that of Joventut. More triples and more rejections and, now, clearly aheadup to +8 (50-58) after previous four minutes of vertigo from Osetkowski (9 points then) before he committed his fourth personal. Kravish relieved him (with Will Thomas as inner partner) and more woodstellar performance of the American trained in Berkeley, who has matured these months to complete a match with MVP acronym. And soon, a +11 (64-75) just 7:25 from the buzzer. Mandatory timeout, blow to Musa who was concussed (shortly after Tavares with a gap) and lightning transition with a triple corner from Carter.

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Check, almost mate, would be soon (66-80) because Unicaja was not going to drop so close to glory. Heading to his fourth final in this tournament, to a victory of the second Cup in its history after the one in 2005 with Jorge Garbajosa of MVP. Big words.

Statistics

22

Edy Tavares

28

Guerschon Yabusele

31

dzanan muse

eleven

Mario Hezonja

0

Nigel Williams-Goss

14

Gabriel Deck

8

Adam Hanga

13

Sergio Rodriguez

1

fabien causeur

17

vincent poirier

twenty-one

Petr Cornelie

5

Rudy Fernandez

Statistics

MinptsRTRODRAstPerrecTapT1T2T3FRCFVal
22

Edy Tavares

301921122135/77/80/06226
28

Guerschon Yabusele

23620201010/03/50/2123
31

dzanan muse

twenty1030312003/42/41/151eleven
eleven

Mario Hezonja

16230301002/20/00/503-4
0

Nigel Williams-Goss

12900001103/43/30/1227
14

Gabriel Deck

32fifteen63303105/65/70/24413
8

Adam Hanga

twenty-one351420011/41/10/3537
13

Sergio Rodriguez

fifteen510132300/01/11/3017
1

fabien causeur

fifteen830310101/32/21/4329
17

vincent poirier

6500001011/12/20/0115
twenty-one

Petr Cornelie

3000000000/00/00/001-1
5

Rudy Fernandez

0000000000/00/00/0000

Statistics

Four. Five

david kravish

55

kendrick perry

22

Melvin Ejim

eleven

tyson carter

12

nihad djedovic

4

Tyler Kalinoski

10

Will Thomas

9

Alberto Diaz

8

Dario Brizuela

7

Jonathan Barreiro

1

Dylan Osetkowski

17

Mario Saint Supery

Statistics

MinptsRTRODRAstPerrecTapT1T2T3FRCFVal
Four. Five

david kravish

29twenty62411034/45/72/43424
55

kendrick perry

221020243102/41/22/452eleven
22

Melvin Ejim

19730301000/02/51/2031
eleven

tyson carter

171221151003/30/23/42313
12

nihad djedovic

fifteen531211203/41/20/1217
4

Tyler Kalinoski

22eleven70731002/20/33/42116
10

Will Thomas

twenty821141102/43/40/040fifteen
9

Alberto Diaz

17210122200/01/10/0032
8

Dario Brizuela

12100000001/10/30/114-6
7

Jonathan Barreiro

eleven310100000/00/11/2020
1

Dylan Osetkowski

101421110002/23/62/5349
17

Mario Saint Supery

0000000000/00/00/0000

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