It is the era of Unicaja Málaga, again European champion after beating Galatasaray in the FIBA Champions League final. The boys led by Alberto Díaz and trained by Ibon Navarro raised the sky of Athens their second title followed in this competition, the fourth this course and the sixth for their record in the last three seasons in the best cycle in its history: two glasses, two Champions, a supercopa and an intercontinental. And an author’s basketball, attractive, energetic, unstoppable. Success rounds Spanish hegemony in this tournament (six crowns in nine editions) that appears on the horizon as one of the access roads to the future European NBA. In that elite of the continent, the Unicaja champion lives today.
A handful of fouls committed (two from Kravish in 56 seconds) and two and a half minutes without scoring had steep the beginning for men of green and purple. The plug removed the explosive Carter and the Unicaja chained 10 points of the pull (4-10). The chef Perry continued with the recipe to punish the errors of the rival with a palm and a triple and brought the shoulder Alberto Díaz, chosen the best defender of the competition, and Dylan Ostkowski, in the ideal quintet. The Spanish base pressed the nuts in the rear, very intelligent to cause two fouls of the rival attack, and the German power wing contributed in the offensive production. The whole of Ibon Navarro grabbed the steering wheel from that defense that bites and the rotation in a balanced template that always allows the revolutions to be high even if the pieces dance. The match was hard to peel and in the mud knows how to handle Malaga’s team very well: 13-19 at the end of the first quarter.
No one will bargain a thousandth or a millimeter of delivery while Alberto Díaz is in command of operations. If the captain leaves his soul, how not to follow him. Cumming fell into the base of the base with another foul in attack won for the case by the international. The Turkish team percentages did not allow him to compete against the champion and was not able to stop the concession of comfortable releases of his opponent. If they breathed thanks to Young’s rebounds. The film seemed controlled for Unicaja until a certain permissiveness near the own board and a sequence of precipitated attacks allowed an unexpected lift (26-26). Interestingly at that time the game stopped because a cat jumped to the track. Things that happen in Greece. The clash flowed into the break with Unicaja one step ahead (31-37) by the rebellion of Tyson Pérez and three free carts. Ibon Navarro disliked asking for more defense and in the stands their colleague Ergin Ataman, coach of the Panathinaikos, and Juancho Hernangómez, one of the stars of the current kings of the Euroleague did not lose detail.
Perry was a lightning of responding to the first Blumbergs basket in resumption. If it’s about exchanging blows, Unicaja has feet and hands for any fight. Cumming continued plugged from triple and Ostkowski didn’t want to be left behind in the medium distance shot (40-43). Perry was injured on a basket flight and returned to Ring Alberto Díaz, decisive in the first section. Between the base and Taylor stole four hands a ball that ended in the fourth foul of Cummings, a slap for the Galatasaray. It was the time for another unicaja acceleration, solidarity to share the ball as summarized a precious combination between Kravish and Ostkowski. The Galatasaray reacted with Wallace’s aim. The Turkish team had not said its last word despite skating in the free kick. The last pause came with the clash even in the air (49-56).
Wallace’s individual action, another from Carter. And a two -handed tyson Pérez mate in a bounce that was worth gold. Then Perry and Cumming, the two game directors, returned to give the last pedaladas. Izundu emerged in the area and Wallace multiplied to make its own baskets. The replica was signed by the Kalinoski shooter to grant the whole of Ibon Navarro a great rent (56-66) in the absence of just over five minutes. The title was already in the defense that the Spanish team made of its plot and there the opportunities for the contrary had ended. The Unicaja did not loosen a moment while in Athens his fans rose between the crowd. “I will always be your flag, I always take you with me … the carpena flies and Malaga dreams …”, the happy fans of the Unicaja sang. Again European champions in a cycle that seems to have no end.
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