By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Achille Polonara’s free throw with 1.7 seconds remaining in overtime handed Baskonia the 87 – 86 win over Unicaja Malaga in Round 4 of the Spanish ACB League’s final phase. Thanks to this result, the Basque side improved to 3-1, the same record as Malaga.
Polonara was also the one to force the extra period by scoring the layup with four seconds left in regulation.
Pierria Henry led Baskonia in scoring with 14 points while having four steals. He also drained the triple for the 86 – 86 before Polonara’s game-winning free throw. Luca Vildoza added 13 points and seven assists including the pass to Polonara for the basket that sent the game to overtime.
Alberto Diaz and Gal Mekel dropped 17 points apiece and Axel Bouteille scored 16 for Malaga. Bouteille almost became the hero for Malaga in overtime after hitting back-to-back 3-pointers for a 6-0 run that made it 83 – 86 for his team with 46 seconds to play. Yet the French guard misfired in his 3-point attempt from deep with five seconds to go and then fouled Polonara after Baskonia ran in transition following the rebound.
Baskonia was up even by 15 points in the first half before Malaga had an 18-0 run through the second and third period to come back in the game and make it a close affair.