Perhaps it was the pressure of playing a practically vital match or simply because it didn't seem to be their day, but Magec Tías "Against Gender Violence" was surprised by Ulla Oil Rosalía from the start of the match in which they were playing for the last place in the Women's League 2.
The Galician team, which did not make rotations throughout the first 10 minutes of the match, came out with a much better face than the locals, who they beat in almost all actions, except in rebounds, where Magec Tías had the upper hand. Unable to ever go ahead on the scoreboard, the Lanzarote team watched in amazement and with some bad decisions, as their rival had better shooting percentages, while their basket seemed much smaller, without the possibility of scoring.
In the second quarter, starting with the score of 9 to 17, the differences gradually widened, reaching 21 points. Leocadio Pérez asked for timeouts to try to change what was happening on the court, but he could not find the right situation. For his part, the Galician coach, who continued to trust practically the same starting players, except for two changes, watched calmly what was happening. With a 60% success rate in triples, nothing could be done by a team that, although defending well, saw how their rival's aim was more refined than ever. Ángela González and Sara Corredoria, with 3 triples each, had wreaked havoc on the local defense, which fought with impotence for a match that seemed to be slipping away. At halftime, 31-45 for Ulla Oil Rosalía and much to improve for the Canary Islanders.
The second half began and it did so with very good feelings for the Lanzarote team, who achieved a good 8-0 run to show that they could dream of a comeback. The rival's shooting accuracy was waning, victims of fatigue, while the locals, much fresher in their game, were able to reduce the space created on the scoreboard. Sara Duarte, who reminded us of the player she was before the injury, put the team on her back and pulled it along. With a triple she managed to lift the spirits of her teammates more than ever when it seemed that the differences could not be reduced further and little by little the morale of some was moving inversely to that of the others. The Galician coach asked for a time-out, but he could not extinguish the Lanzarote euphoria, which although still behind on the scoreboard, saw the light at the end of the tunnel. The quarter ended with the score at 52 to 57 and 10 minutes of authentic heart attack.
And the last quarter arrived, a quarter where 2 seconds after the start it was already seen that something was going to happen, with a steal by María Esperanza Delgado and the definition under the basket to reduce the differences further. And so, little by little, the Lanzarote scoreboard continued to grow, while the visitor's scoreboard had stalled, until adding a partial of 23 to 0 for the locals, who were getting everything they put into practice. Leocadio Pérez began to play with rotations in defense-attack, Iranzu was a lung stealing balls, Maimouna (who again signed another double-double) appeared out of nowhere to intercept passes, Camille left her skin in each ball, Regina returned to smile and enjoy basketball and Carolina Mateo, as a star, even if they added an extra personal foul, was the lighthouse to follow for the rest of her teammates.
The Magec Tías "Against Gender Violence" of the great occasions was seen, the one that works as a team, the one that suffers together, the one that smiles together, the one that enjoys together and the one that, even if it loses, does it together. This time the coin was going to come out on the side of Magec, because that's how the game was going. With 2 minutes left, Rosalía got the first basket of the quarter and some thought of the worst, but those who were on the court were clear. The victory stayed in Lanzarote and the red lantern left the island. Victory, 70 to 61 and, with three games to go, Magec Tías is out, not only of the last position, but of the relegation. There is still much to work on, much to suffer and, hopefully, much to celebrate.
Technical Sheet
Magec Tías "Against Gender Violence" (70): Regina Gómez (18), Maimouna Haidara (10), Carolina Mateo (10), María Esperanza Delgado (13) and Camille Giardina (16). Sara Duarte (3), Iranzu Drake, Talia García and Esther Milandu also played.
Ulla Oil Rosalía (61): Carla García (2), Nuria Choren (10), Sara Corredoira (20), Ángela González (11) and Leticia Soares (10). Ana de Matías, Clara Riera, Nerea Liste and Blanca Manivesa (8) also played.
Referees: Marcos Silva González and Javier Beneitez Rodríguez. They eliminated the local Carolina Delgado and the visitor Nuria Choren, both for accumulation of personal fouls.
Partial scores each quarter: 9-17 / 31-45 (halftime) 52-57 / 70-61 (final)
Incidents: Women's League 2 match of the 20/21 season, belonging to matchday 23, played at the Tías Municipal Pavilion. Without public
