Huertas brought Tenerife one step away from another title in FIBA Champions League
The Brazilian found the answer to all the attacks of Ragland, whose excellent game did not help Hapoel reach the final. The basketball players of Tenerife, the first winners of the FIBA Champions League, will try to reach the second trophy in this competition on Sunday, as they flew over Hapoel from Holon on the wings of Marcelinho Huertas in the semifinals of the Final Four – 78:71.
The Brazilian kept a high pace all the time, while Hapoel was out of breath at the beginning. It took them more than four minutes for the first points, which the team of Jesus Vidorreta used and made the starting run (7:2), and then bounced to 11:2, then 20:10.
In the second period, Ragland started to break through all the defensive lines of Tenerife. But, to each of his attacks, the rival had an answer. First of all, Huertas, who hid the date on his christening with a great game (May 25, 1983). When he couldn’t, Fitipaldo, Wiltjer and Shermadini appeared, on whose back the Spanish club built an almost double-digit advantage after the first 20 minutes.
Huertas continued to dance on the field and kept Hapoel at a distance. Almost every time the Israelis threatened, he quickly found holes in the defense, as after two tied threes by Chris Johnson (57:59), he retaliated in the 32nd minute with two consecutive balls “on a tray” to Shermadini for a new escape for Tenerife (63:57).
Ragland couldn’t do it alone
It was as if he had thrown the glove in Ragland’s face again. The American tore the net with a shot behind the line for three points, then opened the transition of Hapoel (64:68), broke through once more and laid the ball on the board, so that his new miniature Menco finished with a three for Hapoel’s first lead (69:68) and eruption the delight of his fans. However, the joy lasted for a short time, first the Shermadini, and then, like other than Huertas from the half distance, restored the peace of Tenerife and brought additional nervousness to Hapoel.
Johnson vigorously protested after a foul was awarded in the attack. He got a technical error, and the Brazilian and Wiltjer had the opportunity to separate the Spanish team from the free-throw line again. This was practically the end of the last real chance for the Israelis, who were left without a final in the second consecutive attempt at the Final Four.
Huertas was the best in the winning team with 17 points and 9 assists. Shermadini added 14 pts and seven rebounds. Canadian Kyle Wiltjer scored 8 points and seven rebounds. In the defeated team, Joe Ragland finished the game with 22 points.
For the first time in history, Manresa is in the final of the European competition
Tim of Pedro Martinez, is still too strong for Ludwigsburg, which was not helped by Simon’s career match. “Half” of Manresa (about 3,000 fans) came to Bilbao to support their players. And they retaliated with a victory over Ludwigsburg and a place in the finals of the FIBA Champions League where Tenerife awaits them.
It will be the first final since the founding of the competition, in 2016, in which two teams from the same country will meet. As expected, both teams entered the match fiercely, with an emphasis on solid defense.
The German team resisted for a long time, and often had a result initiative. But, the fresh representative of Spain, Yankuba Sima (he made his debut during the last “window”), knew how to use usable balls by Dani Perez and other teammates. Ismael Bako and especially Chima Moneke, who dominated both rackets, leaned on him, so Manresa flirted with an advantage of ten points at the beginning of the last section. Why they didn’t cross it, the biggest culprit was on the other side – Justin Simon.
The American player has played the best game since coming to Europe, lifting Ludwigsburg from the “floor” several times. However, he lacks support, especially in the very end, so Manresa will play the finals of the European competition for the first time in history.
And as announced, the other “half” of the city will join them in the final of the FIBA Champions League in Bilbao. In the winning team, Sima stood out with 15 and Moneke with 13 points and even 13 rebounds. In the defeated team, Simon scored 18 pts.