90-66. FIATC Girona beats Slovakian Levice and consolidates European leadership

He FIATC Girona He recovered his sensations this Tuesday and consolidated the leadership in the FIBA Europe Cup with a victory against Patrioti Levice Slovak (90-66) in the Fontajau fort, to end a streak of two defeats.

Moncho Fernández’s team celebrated the sixth win in six home games and closed the first round of the group stage with four victories in five days, in its European debut.

Mac McClung He was once again the team’s top scorer with 18 points in the first half and the centers also shone Martinas Geben (13 points and 10 rebounds) and David N’Guessan (12 and 10, plus four assists), in a game that was decided in the second quarter (36-20).

Girona needed to take a step forward after last week’s double setback, an unexpected 81-79 with the Hungarian NHSZ-Szolnoki Olajbanyasz and a clear 107-78 with Casademont Zaragoza, and started with one more march (4-0), but had a bad first period.

Levice needed almost four minutes to open their locker, but they were ahead with a run of 0-11, taking advantage of Girona’s constant losses.

The locals added five turnovers in the first five minutes and Moncho turned to the talent of McClung, FIBA Europe Cup MVP of the month of Octoberand Jassel Perezsecond best player in the Endesa League in points and rating per duel.

They closed the gap with a triple each and Girona finished the first period just two points behind (12-14), with 0-9 in points after loss.

Girona increased the defensive intensity and opened the second quarter with a 7-0 lead by Stanley Whittaker to regain the initiative on the scoreboard (19-14).

Hicks, Levice’s main threat, Gabe Dorsey and Jalen Brooks led the Slovak resistance (31-28), but the lead reached 15 points after three consecutive triples by McClung (46-31). He already had 18 points.

Girona closed the first half with a 48-34 lead. They went from 12 points in the first quarter to 36 in the second and from eight losses to three. He dominated the rebound 21-10 and exceeded 80% in two-point shots.

The locals, owners of the paint, just broke the match in the early stages of the second half, with a 12-3 run with eight points from Martinas Geben (60-37).

Levice looked overwhelmed and Moncho took the opportunity to adjust minutes and even brought on Enric Sanmartín and Sergi Juher, young players from the under-22 team.

The Catalan team’s lead reached 25 points with Sergi Martínez’s second triple (68-43) and the match was resolved at the end of the third period (70-50, 22-16).

The last quarter was a procedure to distribute loads and no local player exceeded 25 minutes. The next challenge will be on Saturday with the Surne Bilbao, again in the Fontajau fort.