88-98: iLerna Lleida comes back and reaches the final of the Catalan League

He Ilerna Lleida has been qualified for the final of the Catalan League ACB after beating this Thursday the FIATC Girona by 88-98 in the second day of group 2 and add two wins in their two gamesafter a new comeback in a second half in which their rival was much superior.

The two teams came out imprecise, with the lack of training typical of the preseason, and with many rotations. In just three minutes, both coaches had already made four changes each.

The first basket of the game was a triple by Batemon, from Ilerna Lleida, but it was FIATC Girona that took the initiative on the scoreboard from the beginning, with the American point guard Mac McClung taking the reins. The people of Ilerdense seemed to regret having played 24 hours earlier against Joventut.

Girona, which had the losses of Jassel Pérez, Isaac Vázquez, Maxi Fjellerup and Aljaz Kunc, was better in the first 20 minutes, and had a 12-point lead (43-31), with good minutes from Geben and Pluta and superiority in offensive rebounding.

An example of Ilerna Lleida’s difficulties in getting into the match was the 0 of 5 percentage in free throws by the Frenchman Perrin, who disappeared at the beginning. But a final push by Rodríguez and Mcghee allowed Gerard Find’s team to adjust the score. until the break was 46-39.

And as happened on Wednesday in the match against Joventut, Ilerna Lleida completely changed their face after coming out of the locker room and overwhelmed FIATC Girona in the third quarter. They came out very intense in defense and in just four minutes they were ahead (52-55) with some connected Mcghee and Ejim.

The Ilerda team found the way and in the blink of an eye they had already opened a gap of 13 points. Sergi Martínez kept the people of Girona alive, but the third quarter ended 64-78 and with the feeling that Gerard Find’s team had victory in their pocket. The negative note was a new injury to the Lleida Diagné centerwho left before the end of the third quarter with problems in his left knee.

The last quarter started the same: with a much superior Ilerna that reached a 22-point lead (64-86). The clash was practically doomed, although Moncho Ferñández’s team did not throw in the towel and made up for the result until the final 88-98.

Ilerna Lleida awaits a rival for the final, which will be played Sunday, at 12:00 p.m.at the Palau d’Esports Catalunya in Tarragona.