Baxi Manresa secured a decisive 101-83 victory over Casademont Zaragoza in Manresa on Friday, 16 May, marking their fifth win in the last seven matches. The result significantly strengthens their bid for an eleventh-place finish, bringing European competition closer.
The game saw a tentative first half, with Manresa holding a slight lead, but the second half proved to be the difference. A strong run by Diego Ocampo's side was initially matched by Zaragoza, however, a second sustained push from the home team went unanswered, allowing them to close out the match comfortably.
First Half Action
Diego Ocampo's starting five included Ferran Bassas, Retin Obasohan, Álex Reyes, Gustav Knudsen, and Pierre Oriola. For Casademont Zaragoza, Joan Plaza opted for Marco Spissu, Justin Wright-Foreman, Santi Yusta, Devin Robinson, and Bojan Dubljevic. Oriola opened the scoring for Manresa, and the initial minutes were evenly contested, with the score at 7-7 after four minutes, according to Nació Digital.
Manresa managed to establish a four-point lead on two occasions. Zaragoza, with much at stake, saw Gabriel Olaseni and Tray Bell-Haynes display their quality to keep the game balanced. A crucial three-pointer from Bassas gave Manresa a narrow 23-21 advantage at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter began with another Manresa three-pointer, this time from David Duke. Margins remained tight, with neither team fully dominating the pace, though Ocampo's team consistently stayed slightly ahead, leading 37-35 in the 16th minute. Louis Olinde was a standout player for Zaragoza, scoring seven points in just six minutes. Devin Robinson made an impact for Zaragoza with two powerful plays, but also accumulated his third personal foul, as did Santi Yusta. Manresa ended the first half with a five-point lead, 46-41.
Second Half Dominance
Manresa started the second half with purpose. A 9-2 run, capped by Reyes, extended their lead to over ten points, making it 54-43 in the 22nd minute. The home team's advantage grew steadily, prompting Plaza to call a timeout when his team was fourteen points down. However, the timeout did not help Zaragoza, as they immediately lost possession.
Manresa was playing at their best, particularly in defence, and their attack was more fluid. Agustín Ubal pushed the lead to twenty points, 66-46, in the 27th minute. Despite this, Casademont Zaragoza mounted a 0-12 comeback, narrowing the gap. Eli Brooks and Olinde eventually broke this run. Manresa entered the final ten minutes with a thirteen-point lead, 71-58.
Securing the Victory
Manresa's return to strong defence and effective offence from Bassas and Reyes restored their near-maximum lead. Plaza, aware of his team's dwindling chances for a much-needed victory, did not wait to intervene. Unlike the previous quarter, Zaragoza could not mount another significant comeback, allowing Manresa to approach the end of the match with considerable calm.
Obasohan, who had been quiet until then, ended the game with an entertaining contribution. The final score of 101-83 secured Manresa's fourteenth victory of the season, bringing them closer to European qualification. Referees for the match were Jordi Aliaga, Jorge Martínez Fernández, and David Sánchez Benito. Pierre Oriola and Devin Robinson were both eliminated from the game due to fouls. Before the match, Centre d'Esports Manresa was honoured for their Third Federation title.
