By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A fourth berth in the Basketball Champions League Final Four for two-time champion Lenovo Tenerife.
Txus Vidorreta’s side led all the way to the 84-72 victory versus BAXI Manresa Wednesday. Previously confirmed Final Four participants, Hapoel Bank Yahav Jerusalem, Telekom Baskets Bonn, and Unicaja are all first-time semifinalists.
Bruno Fitipaldo enjoyed a game-high 22 points, including ten in the fourth quarter of Game 3 of the best-of-three Playoffs series. The 2022 Final Four MVP Marcelo Huertas finished with 16 points, seven assists, and two rebounds. Giorgi Shermadini threw in eight points with 3/3 field goals and pulled down seven rebounds in an efficient 18-minute showing.
Tied 1-1 with both sides prevailing at home, the Canary Islands outfit controlled Game 3 with the lead peaking at 16 points. Stuck on the injury list, Finnish sniper Sasu Salin was sidelined along with ineligible Dakota Mathias.
The visitors at Santiago Martin did not give up until late in the fourth quarter. Falling short of actually completing a comeback at any point was largely due to being held to 3/11 from beyond the arc. Limited to three points over the first three quarters, former Florida standout Devin Robinson ended up with a team-high 14 points. Dani Garcia did not suit up for the team coached by Pedro Martinez.
Eliminated from the Champions League, the Catalonia club will focus on Spain’s Liga Endesa and improving the current W-L tally of 8-19, two wins outside the relegation zone.
Postgame press conference
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League