After the regular season, the moment of truth arrives, the playoffs. Quarterfinals, semifinals and final among the eight best. In this series of quarters, the best of three games, Inter Movistar arrives after beating Barça on the final day in Torrejón. In terms of numbers, it was of little use to Pato’s men, because they were going to finish in sixth position anyway, but they deprived the Catalans of finishing at the top of the table, a privilege that became Palma’s. Now, Movistar visits Cartagena in the first of the three games in the series. This Wednesday (9:00 p.m., RFEF TV), the first, with a court factor in favor of the meloneros in case the tie needs a third duel. At Inter Movistar is Raúl Gómez (26 years old), the man from Albacete who arrived in 2021 as a center, or a power forward in his absence… and that this season is closing.
“I am a team player and I always try to do what is best for the group. TO In the middle of the season, and with the losses of Carlao and Raya, Pato told me to play closing, and I looked good. I started with confidence and now I think I have a good level, I am quite happy and eager to continue helping”, Raúl told AS outside the Jorge Garbajosa pavilion after winning against Barça. He had to mark Ferrao closely, one of the best or the best center in the world. “Our regular phase was not entirely good, it can be seen in the position in the table, but we arrived with confidence. I didn’t care about the rival for a long time, I’m focused on improving as a team”, added the Movistar player. “Here I am happy, both at the club and in the city. Hopefully I will be there for many more years ”, wished the man from Albacete. Cartagena arrives launched: they have six victories in a row, they were the best team in the second round and to close they defeated Palma, European champions. They finished third. In addition, this campaign they eliminated Movistar in the Copa del Rey. Vibrant duel.
The king of Europe before the debutant Noia
For the first time in its history, Palma finished as champions of the regular phase. After winning the Champions League, confidence is through the roof, but his coach, Antonio Vadillo, calls for prudence: “We are starting a new competition totally different from the regular league. We will have the court factor in our favour, but it only influences if we reach a third game, with which we have to be aware of the importance of tomorrow’s match. From now on everything is final and we will face a rival that will make things very difficult for us”. The duel in Son Moix will be at 7:30 p.m. (RFEF TV) against a Noia who, in his first season in the highest category, achieved the feat of getting into the playoffs. “What was unimaginable in August and an illusion in March it is, finally, in May, a reality that is already here. There is a lot to gain and nothing to lose”, they affirm from the club.
