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.

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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.

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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.

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.