Going 5-for-31 from three-point range was a clear example of Casademont Zaragoza's offensive performance. One of the areas in which the team had improved most during preseason was dreadful against the French side. Vives was one of the few bright spots, leading the team on the court, but the rest of the squad failed to perform, making this by far their worst game of the preseason after three previous friendlies in which they had shown many positive signs.
The Aragonese side suffered its second defeat of the preseason. Photo: Casademont Zaragoza
The starting five chosen by Gonzalo García de Vitoria was probably the most physical lineup, featuring Trae Bell-Haynes, Justin Jaworski, Miguel González, Roberts Blumbergs and Gabriel Olaseni. Brussino is also the type of physical player who could replace Miguel at the small forward position.
THE GAME
The game began with numerous offensive mistakes, including turnovers and poor decisions by Casademont Zaragoza, and the French side took advantage to go five points ahead in the early stages. The substitutions were not providing a solution either, and the deficit was not shrinking. These minutes were probably the Aragonese side's worst of the preseason.
But Guillem Vives and his experience emerged to bring the team closer on the scoreboard, while Homesley's individual quality brought the game level at 17-17. The American wing player, who was in a rhythm, finished the first quarter with a huge three-pointer at the buzzer, giving Casademont Zaragoza a narrow lead (21-17) after the opening ten minutes.
The red-clad side did not come out of the break well, and a tough 3-11 run put Elan Béarnais seven points ahead. Missed three-pointers and a lack of threat inside the paint caused the offensive blackout, while the French side scored with relative ease. Defensive breakdowns continued to condemn García de Vitoria's team, and the gap reached ten points, but a strong finish from Jaworski sent the game into halftime at 38-43. The Basque coach had to make many changes, especially defensively, to secure victory against the French side.
SECOND HALF
Casademont Zaragoza changed completely after halftime, led by Guillem Vives, who guided the team both offensively and with his defensive intensity to turn the game around with a 12-4 run that made it 50-47. The entire squad followed Vives' energy, holding the French side to just 13 points in the third quarter, while the Aragonese team led 64-56 with ten minutes remaining.
The lapses returned, and the French side, with its strongest lineup on the court, scored whenever it had the chance. These two factors led to a dreadful 3-13 run in less than five minutes, allowing the visitors to move back in front. The defensive breakdowns forced García de Vitoria to put Vives back on the court.
Not even the Catalan point guard's return was enough to bring any sense to the red-clad side's attacks. The team began launching three-pointers without any accuracy, reflecting the game's overall momentum, and a missed perimeter shot by Jaworski sealed Casademont Zaragoza's fate.
