Copa del Rey – Finals – Day 1
lenovo tenerife
Unicaja
What does it matter if Madrid don’t play. And what if Barça weren’t there. The cup ended in Badalona with a terrific final between two great teams, two examples of the good sporting health of Spanish basketball despite the gap between the piggy banks of the two big football fans and the rest of the ACB. Unicaja Málaga won (80-83) to secure their second cup title after 18 years in Zaragoza. But we also have to toast the Lenovo Tenerife, a sign that good work is usually rewarded. Nothing to distract the island team, no matter how much their coach, Txus Vidorreta, considers himself Poulidor. Sometimes being second is also a win.
It was an unprecedented final, the first in 14 years without Madrid or Barça, and the crown went to the team that defeated the two giants. MVP for Tyson Carter. And the success of Ibon Navarro, the 46-year-old coach from Vitoria, who after several training courses (including as an assistant to Ivanovic, Spahija and Scariolo) and a tour of Baskonia, Manresa, Murcia and his first season in Malaga celebrates Andorra as head coach . .
Two pitched teams collided in the Olympic. For each troupe it was a unique opportunity, a date with their history. As a rule, the showcases do not open for those who pedal at the wheel of the big ones. And there won’t be many instances where Madrid and Barça both bow their knees at the same time with a title on the table. In those first few minutes, Tenerife and Unicaja put up a very balanced confrontation with small returns. Probably because they are groups with a similar suit, supportive and hungry, little concerned with egos and the image of their coaches. Everyone knows what their role is. Everyone knows in which direction to row. Those who best describe this union DNA are guys like Jaime Fernández, Alberto Díaz and Darío Brizuela, the three Eurobasket champions. The other parts moved around him. Kravish was still plugged in after surviving the colossus Tavares in the semifinals, Perry sprinted against Fitipaldo, Salin and Barreiro sharpened their wrists, Fernández and Díaz dived from the three-pointer (16-17).
Each span was discussed outside (Marcelinho-Díaz) and inside (Shermadini-Kravish). Brizuela tried to wake up with his first goal in an agile game, from one board to another with few steps and passes, both teams straight to the basket with their cocktail of penetrations, counterattacks and a quick movement of the ball looking for the lone shooter. It was block against block, a match in front of the mirror (23-24).
At Unicaja, the engine was started by Alberto Díaz. He’s a man for everything. The red-haired point guard runs, rebounds and scores. It looks like it has four hands. Tenerife responded with the baton of Marcelinho, a young man of 39, and a defense with few cracks that caused a momentary drought in Malaga: two points in three and a half minutes (33-26). Ibon Navarro’s group made triple rushes until Kalinoski sang bingo and returned first name to the game. The afternoon passed in gusts. Another responded to an arreón. In the midst of this game of chess, a prize was awarded when a piece slipped out of the trainer’s hand and moved on its own initiative. A three-pointer in the style of Llull by Marcelinho led to the break, the Canaries had a centimeter lead (39:37). All up in the air in the finale of the humble.
Alberto Díaz, after the final Alejandro Garcia (EFE)
Brizuela emerged with a few sparks, the hallmark of such an exuberant player. At Unicaja, Shermadini grew tremendously, multiplying in one frame and the other for the kick and score. The veteran Georgian giant (33 years old, 2.17 m) was also chasing his special fame in a race that was already several kilometers long. Like Marcelinho. The Brazilian farmer joined his colleague to open another small bite on the scoreboard (53-44). Vidorreta rewarded his warriors with some air on the bench. There was still a lot of film left and the helm was inherited from Fitipaldo. Malaga’s resistance was a matter of Alberto Díaz’s inexhaustible sweat and the accuracy of Kalinoski and Carter. There was no way anyone was going to land a final right hand: 60-60 to close out the third quarter. The title, in 10 minutes.
Point up, point down. Tenerife already lived in the hands of Marcelinho, a sprinter who moved through every box to chase a crack for the check. The game was in his head. In his jump shots and his excursions into the heart of the area and in his connections with Shermadini. He spared no effort until he was out of breath. The Canarian team had left its soul, but on this mission its legs no longer reached every corner. And Unicaja found the free tiles. Carter, Barreiro and Osetkowski hammered from the touchline for a run with the goal in mind (69-77 with three minutes left). Marcelinho returned to join forces with Jaime Fernández and Shermadini and give another pride. But opposite was another soldier. One who is happy to help without getting credit. Three defenses by Alberto Díaz (a rebound, a free kick and a steal), the kind that doesn’t sell, the kind that doesn’t appear in the videos, assisted Unicaja. It was the hallmark of a champion team.
LENOVO TENERIFE, 80; UNICAJA MALAGA, 83
Lenovo Tenerife: Fitipaldo (3), Salin (7), Cook (3), Doornekamp (3) and Shermadini (20) – starting at five -; Jaime Fernández (16), S. Rodríguez (0), Marcelinho Huertas (21), Abromaitis (3) and Fran Guerra (4).
Unicaja Malaga: Perry (6), Carter (17), Ejim (3), Barreiro (8) and Kravish (8) – starting at five -; Osetkowski (9), Kalinoski (14), Brizuela (7), Alberto Diaz (6) and Thomas (5).
Partially: 16-17, 23-20, 21-23 and 20-23.
Referee: Emilio Perez Pizarro, Benjamin Jimenez and Fernando Calatrava.
Olympia of Badalona. 11,458 spectators.
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