Baxi Manresa achieved another great victory to position itself well up in the Endesa League. They beat Gran Canaria 91 – 72 at home with a great closing match. The winner was fourth with a 9-6 mark, while the island team with a 7-9 record.
There was an Argentine duel. Juan Pablo Vaulet contributed 7 pts (3-4t2, 1-4t1), 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 recovery in 13 minutes. On the other side, Nicolás Brussino closed with 13 pts (2-2t2, 3-6t3), 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 turnovers in 32 minutes.
The game started with parity. Both casts did not take advantage, Baxi Manresa had Thomasson (6) as the axis within the 15 equals in six minutes. Gran Canaria took the reins with a fantastic moment from Brussino (10 pts) added to the play of Slaughter (5 assists) for a 9-0 run and close 24 – 16 up.
The local reacted in a big way. He began to emerge from his defense, ran the floor well and took advantage. Maye (7) and Bako (4 pts, 4 reb) were decisive, Baxi Manresa won in both hoops and started with a run of 18-2 to have control. Gran Canaria with seven losses and 2-8t3, but did not give up, managed to match the score with Slaughter (6) and go to the locker room only 38 – 36 down.
The balance continued in the match. Manresa with the advantage, Moneke (9) as a guide in the offensive to continue up (51 – 47 and 55 – 51). Gran Canaria extremely irregular, Ennis (9) barely took advantage to reduce, but without scoring from a distance and few variants, leaving Baxi in front 60 – 55.
The closing was all from the host. Baxi had solutions everywhere, Voltonen (8 pts, 2-2t3) started at a high level, added to the domain on the glass and again taking advantage from the pass (10 assists). Maye (6) and Moneke (5) joined to stretch to 77 – 60 in six minutes and completely tip the scales. The visit without ideas, Slaughter and a triple by Brussino to reduce, but the local continued at a high level reaching +19 in the final two minutes and lowering the blind.
