The Badalona Cup is also that of La Penya, who daydreams about ending the host's curse after leaving one of the favorites by the wayside and meeting Tenerife in the semifinals with a basketball recital in the purest showtime style. Baskonia succumbed to the passion of Joventut, who laid the exciting first stone to become the first organizer to win the tournament in the last 22 years. Carles Duran's team added 59 points after the break, who enjoyed their best game of the course like a small child. What a time to show the best side of him.
And that it was difficult for La Penya to land in the Cup, somewhat accelerated in the first actions, with too much desire to do well. Nerves and doubts that Giedraitis detected perfectly to leave his letter of introduction in an Olympian dressed in his best clothes with 11 points only in the first quarter. In the blink of an eye, Baskonia climbed to 2-13, which acted like a slap in the face for the green and black side, which woke up suddenly and had the ability to quickly get into the game with a partial 10-0 led by the triples Parra, which ended with 4/6 from the arc. What a tremendous display of yours.
Things were livened up in a much more hectic second act, which heated up the stands even more. Baskonia stretched and Joventut responded in a magnificent exchange. The green and blacks clung to the experience of Pau Ribas in the most delicate moments, of incalculable value what it brings to a tender team like La Penya. Tomic, who was blowing out 36 candles, had started off on the wrong foot, missing affordable shots, but he connected to the duel on time (he ended up being the top scorer) and was able to equalize the forces in the light (32-32, minute 18). A three-pointer from Costello at the buzzer suggested a blow to La Penya on the way to the locker room (35-42). Nothing could be further from the truth. The best was yet to come.
The rest had the same effect on the green and black players as the Panoramix potion had on the inhabitants of the famous Gallic village. A triple by Ellenson raised the curtain and announced that it was Baskonia's turn to open the umbrella. Joventut scored up to 33 points in a majestic third quarter, in which Brodziansky joined the Olímpic party.
Howard tried to get a foot in the game but committed the fifth foul very soon (minute 32) –questionable that Peñarroya left him on the track and paired with Guy– and without their main threat in front of Joventut they ended up losing their hair. Happy stretched the score to 94-75 and the stands began to sing Tomic's happy birthday. The party was complete in Badalona.
