Ciutat de L’Hospitalet 2012
Vladimir Stankovic reports from the Ciutat de L’Hospitalet final 2012
Despite the brilliance with which Lietuvos had shown in the first half, Regal FC Barcelona came from behind to dangerously close in the last two quarters, fighting to keep the crown they achieved in 2011.
The Catalans did not have the time needed to take the title, but improved the display of basketball from the first half in which they had been completely overcome. Despite their recovery Barca were unable to maintain this pace for long enough resulting in a Regal Barca dethroning.
Lietuvos Rytas from the start displayed talent to marvel at. First, it was the superiority of Jankaitis under the basket. With nearly eight consecutive points, all Lithuanians began to take an early advantage on the scoreboard. The scoreboard got to 7-22, showing the enormous problems of Regal FC Barcelona: to halt the offensive storm of the Lithuanians and get their own baskets.
Josep Pérez suffered even more than in the second half of the semifinal, with the Lithuanias posing too much of a threat for him to handle. In the second quarter, more of the same. The talent on display was so impressive that the crowd of Hospitalet despite their natural affinity for Barcelona began to support Lietuvos Rytas.
Barca struggled to attack, running possessions without success (with Zhigulin in command while Perez was on the bench). Halfway through the second quarter Jodelis scored two consecutive three pointers to put his team up by 20 points (16-36). A few plays later, came a two consecutive three pointer reply from Regal Barca to reduce the lead slightly before the break. (29-47).
The second half was a completely different story. Lietuvos Rytas parked the superior game they played in the first twenty minutes and opened a completely new book. In the third quarter Barcelona began to play a brilliant game sparking a huge comeback. Lietuvos Rytas was disconnected, stranded in their systems and when the flow ceased to exist, their shortcomings were exposed. Cantenys five in a row late in the third quarter put the score to 48-59, Lietuvos now only with an 11 point lead.
The last period saw solid minutes from Cantenys and Hakanson Ludvig came on the scene with two triples to put the Catalans dangerously close to the Lituanians with only a 5 point margin (57-62). But time was not on their side, especially with Lietuvos still managing to get the ball inside to Jankaitis Augustin (21 points and tournament MVP winner).
With the crown so close to their grasp the fighting spirit of Barca kept them going, slaying the deficit to three points (63-66). However a 2 +1 play by Galeckas put the Lithuanians back to six, a difference that was insurmountable for the Catalans who had to let the crown slip through their fingertips. Lietuvos stole the crown from the 2011 championship winners Barcelona with a brilliant first half and a second that if it had been longer, would of seen them defeated.
06.01.2012
Photographs courtesy of Jordi Montraveta & Charly Mula