Note that the Canary Islands are keen to make their mark in the Copa del Rey. Barça, regarded as the top seed, demonstrated why they completed the initial league phase among the leading four teams. The Videreta side did not give up; they managed to maintain a ten-point lead in the first half (the maximum lead was 12), narrowed the gap in the third quarter, and in the final minutes, Marcelinho took control to seal the victory with a score of 91-86.
It must be noted that time is not kind to orchards. At 41 years old, he continues to deliver masterful performances each week, scoring 22 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists against Unicaja in the first semifinal of the tournament.
The crowd erupted in response to the rhythm of “Boot La Laguna, huh, h!” as one of the Grancanarios, donned in the colours of the regional rival, Fran Guerra, also made a mark on the game with 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.
Peñarroya’s squad is now connected with Endesa following their cup exit, and retaining their coach will prove quite challenging. Kevin Punter suffered an injury in the 21st minute, marking the end for Barça. The 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 7 assists from Satoransky were not enough against an opponent determined to create history on the home ground of their greatest rival.
Culé Illusion
Since the outset of the El Barça tie, it was evident that achieving the cup ticket as the eighth seed was merely a result of a brief period of poor form. The team under Peñarroya’s guidance, when on form, resembles a true powerhouse; even the Tenerife team, known for its basketball prowess, could not halt the flurry of points generated by the Catalans in the first quarter.
The Catalans amassed 33 points, missing only one three-pointer out of five attempts and converting ten two-pointers out of thirteen tries. It seemed that whenever a Barça player shot, the ball would effortlessly find its way through the Canarist net, culminating in an impressive 22-point lead.
Nevertheless, the Chicharrero squad did not relent from the very first change. Supported by an outstanding Bruno Fitipaldo, scoring seven and eight points in the first two quarters, they aimed to hold their ground against Barça’s prowess.
Basketball King: The Tenerife Laguna – Barça / José Carlos Guerra. LPR
With the exception of one player, all Barça participants who stepped onto the court in the first half managed to score. Peñarroya’s rotation appeared endless, maintaining the momentum of energy. The legs of the Culés players seemed to be spinning around as if on a carousel.
Amidst the pace, the Catalan team oscillated around the psychological 10-point barrier, countering the Tenerife attempts to fight back, ultimately concluding the first half at 47-54, with contributions from their two star players: Marcelinho, who netted 8 points and 5 assists, and Fitipaldo, who tallied 15 points along with the same number of assists.
Remove Attempt
However, the interval proved to be a turning point for the aurinegros. Vidorreta transformed into a strategical mastermind, creating a game plan that neither wavered nor surrendered, inspiring the crowd that chanted for the Gaul of Seven Palmas, rallying against the Catalan dominance with cries of “Yes you can”.
When confidence peaked for Tenerife, Jaime Fernández executed a 2+1 with three minutes remaining in the third quarter, elevating the score to 63-66. At that moment, the crowd, already heated by contentious officiating, sensed that their comeback was indeed achievable.
Basketball King: The Tenerife Laguna – Barça / José Carlos Guerra. LPR
Surprisingly, the exhilarating pace established by the mainland team in the first half began to wane. Perhaps the burden of Euroleague fixtures was taking its toll, allowing Tenerife to find their footing.
Peñarroya did not anticipate that Kevin Punter’s injury in the opening minute of the second half would prove so costly. With his shoulder dislocated, the leading scorer for Azulgrana was sidelined for the remainder of the match, while the Tenerife squad navigated the court adeptly.
An iconic one-legged shot from orchards put the score at 76-75 with just over six minutes remaining. The home side had reclaimed the lead since being down 15-14, and the surge of belief amongst the fans was invaluable.
The run that saw the insular side take command resulted in a 15-9 stretch where Marcelinho emerged as the star of the match, ultimately securing the triumph for the Canarian squad and reaffirming their status as strong contenders.
