MoraBanc Andorra achieved permanence in the ACB League at the beginning of the last quarter of its match against Barça, when Valencia Basket’s victory against Dreamland Gran Canaria was consummated, and pushed the Barça team to the limit, which won in overtime (95-100) led by Kevin Punter.
Laprovittola tries to escape Best’s defense.
Barça knew how to play with MoraBanc Andorra’s anxiety at the start of the match. Xavi Pascual’s team achieved a 5-15 run with two triples scored by Argentine guard ‘Juani’ Marcos and four points from center Fall.
A great start for Blaugrana
Žan Tabak’s team scored their first points 5 minutes into the first quarter with a triple by point guard Shannon Evans II. The maximum visitor difference was +12 (5-17), but a 9-2 run with a triple by Kyle Kuric and another by Justin McKoy closed the first act with a 15-19.
Vesely crushes the Andorran hoop.
In the next 10 minutes, Argentine point guard Nico Laprovittola reappeared in charge of the Barça team’s game after three months out due to injury. MoraBanc knew how to adjust the defense and found a way to stop Xavi Pascual’s men. The equality was maximum despite the 26-34 and a partial of 2-9. The locals reacted in the final stretch and Kuric tied the game, but at the buzzer ‘Toko’ Shengelia also scored to make it 39-41.
Morabanc, which was already saved, went for everything
At the restart and with salvation almost certified by Valencia Basket’s comfortable victory over Dreamland Gran Canaria, MoraBanc played more freely. Žan Tabak’s men took the lead on the scoreboard and managed to tie down a Barça team that was quite irregular and overwhelmed at times. Rafa Luz’s leadership in the final stretch of the third quarter helped Andorra finish ahead 62-61 thanks to defensive intensity.
Aaron Best tries to drive to the basket against Punter’s defense.
In the last quarter, with the score 69-70, MoraBanc celebrated salvation with Valencia Basket’s victory over Dreamland Gran Canaria. The locals’ objective was achieved and they still fought for victory until the end against a Barça team that was in the running to be seeded in the play-offs.
Kuric had the ball to win and Barça knew how to suffer in extra time
At 2:56, a triple by Yves Pons made the score 78-76 and then Pustovyi made it 80-76. Xavi Pascual’s team reacted and the game ended in a tie in which Kevin Punter scored a triple to tie it at 86 and Kuric missed his decisive shot.
Shengelia posts to Best.
In extra time, Kevin Punter decided with five consecutive points and Xavi Pascual’s men will fight to be seeded in the play-off and MoraBanc will continue one more season in the ACB League after being in the relegation zone for 15 days.
Technical sheet:
95- MoraBanc Andorra (15+24+23+24+9): Shannon Evans II (16), Best (5), Okoye (10), Pons (7) and Pustovyi (10) -starting five-; Sir’Jabari Rice (13), Kuric (16), Rafa Luz (6), McKoy (5), Kostadinov (7) and Rubén Guerrero (-).
100- Barça (19+22+20+25+14): Juani Marcos (7), Punter (26), Joel Parra (4), ‘Toko’ Shengelia (15) and Fall (6) -starting five-; Darío Brizuela (11), ‘Willy’ Hernangómez (8), Cale (3), Juan Núñez (-), Norris (-), Vesely (12) and Laprovittola (8).
Referees: Carlos Cortés, Luis Miguel Castillo and Cristóbal Sánchez. Pustovyi (m. 47) and Kuric (m. 49) were eliminated by five personal fouls.
Incidents: Match corresponding to matchday 34 of the Endesa League played at the Toni Martí Pavilion in Andorra la Vella in front of 4,602 spectators.