ANDl UCAM Murcia is on the verge of reaching the first European final in its history after beating Paok by 89 to 85, although it has not managed to overcome the six-point disadvantage that it brought from Greece. In the end, the success of the offensive rebound has been key in the future of a tie that causes the same final as last year against Surne Bilbao to be repeated.
Ennis, last minute drop
The Murcians also had the last-minute loss of Dylan Ennis due to discomfort in both wrists, and he was added to the red team by the Estonian forward Sander Raieste, also injured for several weeks with a fibrillar tear in the adductor of his left leg.
Sito Alonso, during the second leg of the FIBA Europe Cup semi-final.
The game had the same pace during the first half. The Greek team, well planted on the parquet of the Palacio de los Deportes in Murcia, withstood the initial attacks of the locals and took advantage of this nervous situation to alternate the lighting and get a small income that made them breathe. That maximum equality was maintained in the following moments and the period ended with a point advantage for the Spanish (20-19).
Little glimpses of what De Julius was going to do
Based on small efforts and moments, UCAM, led by an unleashed David De Julius, began to see the light at the end of the tunnel and, with a triple on the North American’s horn, they went to the locker room with the path already made, leaving the most difficult part for the second half (47-40).
Ccaok hits the hoop during the game.
After passing through the locker room, again the offensive actions of the locals gave the necessary advantage to advance to the final in several sections of the third quarter, but the Greeks, with the points from an inspired Tyree, went into the last ten minutes only three down: 63-60.
De Julius, unleashed, gave wings to UCAM
The last quarter would start in the worst possible way for the Peppers: a partial score of 0-7 made the tie uphill (+10 for the Greeks in total). From there, the figure of David De Julius was going to expand to stratospheric dimensions: the point guard scored 17 consecutive points to momentarily turn the game around (80-69).
Kelan Martin tries to create a good offensive situation.
However, when everything seemed already won for UCAM Murcia, Breein Tyree would appear, culminated by a triple by Melvin with 11.3 left, practically condemning Sito Alonso’s team (85-83). Furthermore, in this period, the visitors dominated the paint and captured many offensive rebounds that allowed them to score points after second chances.
The rebound, Tyree and the free throws leave UCAM without a Spanish final
Faith moved mountains and De Julius, who finished with 41 points, was not going to give up and scored a triple that gave his team hope. With 1.3″ left and with 88 to 85 on the scoreboard, a lack of three free throws on Sant-Roos, the Murcians seemed to have overtime within reach, but the Cuban missed the first, made the second and then missed the third and final free throw that knocked the university students out of their first European final (89-85).
Will Falk fights a ball against Ben Moore.
Cruel end for a UCAM Murcia that will not be able to offer a title to its fans on the club’s 40th anniversary. Furthermore, with this defeat, the final of the last edition is repeated: PAOK Thessaloniki-Surne Bilbao.
Technical sheet:
89- UCAM Murcia (19+21+20+26): DeJulius (41), Radebaugh (13), Falk (-), Kelan Martin (7) and Cacok (15) -starting five-, Michael Forrest (4), Sant-Roos (3), Cate (6) and Toni Nakic (-).
85- PAOK Thessaloniki (20+27+16+25): Tyree (29), Beverley (7), Persidis (-), Melvin (12) and Moore (15) -starting five-, Timmy Allen (7), Koniaris (2), Omoruyi (10), Fillios (-) and Dimsa (3).
Referees: Andris Aunkrogers, from Latvia; Lorenzo Baldini, from Italy; and Dariusz Zapolski, from Poland. No eliminated.
Incidents: Second leg of the semi-finals of the FIBA European Basketball Cup that was played at the Palacio de los Deportes in Murcia with more than 6,000 spectators in the stands, several dozen of them traveling from Thessaloniki.
