PHOTOS: Sergio Betancort.
The youth team of San José Obrero has learned to suffer and row all on the same side when things get complicated. Circumstances that were revealed on Sunday morning to tie 23 goals against CB Romade and win for the second consecutive year the title of champion of the Canary Islands and earn the right to represent the handball of the Canary Islands in the sector phase of the Spanish Championship. The players of San José Obrero were always ahead on the scoreboard, facing a CB Romade that never gave up and almost came back in the final minutes of the match.
CB San José Obrero started the match in an overwhelming way and achieving the first important differences in the score. The 6:0 defense allowed to stop the attacks of CB Romade and recover balls to turn them into fast counterattacks. The first goal came in a recovery in defense and a fast counterattack that Javi Betancort finished, showing from the beginning the hallmarks of this team.
The 1-5 partial in the first six minutes of the match, forced the coach of CB Romade to request the first timeout. Miguel Ángel Curbelo tried to get his players into the match, trying to correct the mistakes they had made in these first minutes of the match. The pressure exerted by the public from the stands was also taking its toll on the team from Gran Canaria.
The match had a turning point in the 12th minute of the first half. In an attack by San José Obrero, Sergio Morera's knee gives way and he has to be removed from the court injured. The player from Lanzarote received medical discharge last week after several months of injury due to a problem in the ligament. Sergio Morera's injury left the players of San José Obrero cold and losing one of the leaders of the team.
Until the end of the first half, CB San José Obrero managed the advantage it had acquired, although having more problems to overcome the defense of CB Romade and failing to increase the differences to have a little more peace of mind. With the result of 11 to 13, the first 30 minutes came to an end.
CB Romade dominated the first minutes of the second half of the match. Michael Martín, one of the best players of Romade in attack, put the 12 to 13 on the scoreboard and reduced the advantage of San José Obrero to the minimum expression. And Daniel Herrera is in charge of establishing the tie in the 6th minute of the second half (15-15).
With the absence of Sergio Morera, Javier Tavío and Alberto Pérez took the responsibility of the attack of San José Obrero. Alberto Pérez scored several goals from the left wing, achieving the team from Lanzarote a 0-3 partial to get back in the score (16-19).
CB Romade made during many minutes of the second part a mixed defense on Cristian Luján, with the aim of stopping the outside shot of San José Obrero and force them to make a more elaborate ball circulation. The team from Gran Canaria did not throw in the towel, putting the 21 to 22 with six minutes left for the end of the match.
The final minutes of the match were heart-stopping. San José Obrero showed its "experience" in the decisive moments. Under the sticks Juan José Montoya made good interventions to avoid the reaction of CB Romade and in attack they maintained enough tranquility to mature each of the actions. Michael Martín established the tie to 23 goals with very few seconds left for the end of the match.
Sergio Morera requested a timeout to organize the last play of attack. The tie was worth to San José Obrero due to its greater goal difference in the first two matches of the Canary Islands Championship. Far from going to the attack in search of the victory, they matured the last play of the match, let the seconds pass and with the tie to 23 the match came to an end.
The players of San José Obrero celebrated the title of champions of the Canary Islands, a title that they revalidate after the success of the past campaign. Blas Parrilla, president of the Canary Islands Handball Federation, presented CB Romade with the title of runner-up and Pedro San Ginés, president of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, presented the players of San José Obrero with the title of champions.
Technical Sheet
CB Romade (23): Saúl Rodríguez, Daniel Herrera (6), Josué Medina (1), Daniel Medina, Alby Rosales, René Santana (3) and Michael Martín (9) -initial team- Omar Medina (1), Alejandro Campos, David García, Adrián Martín, Joel García (2), Pedro Viera (1) and David Rosell. Coach: Miguel Ángel Curbelo
CB San José Obrero (23): Aitor Pérez, Javier Tavío (5), Sergio Morera (2), Giovanni Santana, Cristian Luján (4), Javier Betancort (4) and Alberto Pérez (5) -initial team- Juan José Montoya, Tomás Sánchez, Daniel Rodríguez (1), Iván Montoya (1), Amensay Niz, Acoidán Martín, Alejandro Morera (1). Coach: Sergio Morera.
Partials every minutes: 1-3, 2-5, 4-7, 4-8, 8-11, 11-13 (break) 14-15, 16-18, 17-20, 18-21, 21-22, 23-23 (final).
Referees: Joaquín Hernández and Víctor Martín. They excluded Alby Rosales (1), Adrián Martín (1), René Santana (1) and Michael Martín (1) for CB Romade and Daniel Rodríguez (1), Amensay Niz (1) and Giovanni Santana (1) for CB San José Obrero.
Incidents: Titerroy Municipal Pavilion, about 400 spectators. Match corresponding to the third day of the Canary Islands Youth Men's Handball Championship.