The Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote closed the regular phase with a victory of enormous value after defeating Rocasa Gran Canaria by 26-25 in the Municipal Pavilion of San Bartolomé. In a match that started uphill, the Lanzarote team drew on character, defense and faith to come back in the second half and win a derby that reinforces the team's morale.
The start was not easy for Zonzamas. Rocasa came out with a lot of rhythm and took advantage of three counterattacks to take the lead (1-3, min. 6). The locals were stuck in attack, with unforced errors that forced Juan José Rivera to call a timeout in the 13th minute (3-6).
With the passing of the minutes, Zonzamas continued without finding offensive solutions, although their defense kept the team in the game. Rocasa, more accurate, extended the lead (4-9, min. 20), punishing every local error. It was then when Gleinys Reyes and Valentina Menucci under the posts carried the team on their backs to cut differences and change the dynamic (6-9, min. 24).
The potato team improved its sensations in the final minutes of the first half and managed to get closer on the scoreboard, reaching halftime with 9-12 and with another image on the court.
After the resumption, Rocasa struck again with a 0-3 run in just three minutes (9-15, min. 33), in a stretch where the match slowed down, also conditioned by the heat. Even so, Zonzamas did not fall apart. Paula Fernández cut the deficit with a powerful hip shot (14-17, min. 43) and shortly after Marie Louis further adjusted the score from the wing (16-18, min. 45).
The match then entered a phase of maximum tension. Ingrid Roger brought her team to within a single goal (min. 47), forcing Rocasa to call a timeout, and Marie Louis signed the 20-all equalizer in the 51st minute, paving the way for the comeback.
With the stands pushing, Zonzamas took another step. Ingrid Roger put the locals ahead (21-20, min. 53) in an exchange of blows in which both teams played for everything. In the final seconds, a goal by Irene Botella from six meters sealed the definitive 26-25, unleashing joy in San Bartolomé.
A victory of character to close the regular phase, which reinforces the team's confidence facing the phase for permanence and rewards the effort of the players before their fans.
Technical Sheet
Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote (26): Valentina Menucci, Marie Louis (7), Ingrid Roger (4), Gleinys Reyes (5), Paula Fernández (4), Luna Voncina (2), Alicia Robles, Irene Botella (2), Nahomi Márquez, Claudia Kaulback, Daniela Jerónimo (2), Yasmin Fernandes, Mbongo Masseu.
Coach: Juan José Rivera Ortega.
Rocasa Gran Canaria (25): Eider Poles (6), Yassira Ramírez (4), Linnea Sundholm (3), María Zaldua (2), Ana Medina (2), María González (2), Larissa Da Silva (2), María Victoria Oliveira (2), Martina Lang (1), Alison Peña (1), Irune Pérez, Lourdes Guerra, Silvia Navarro.
Coach: Dejan Ojeda Franeta.
Referees: Raúl Oyarzun Aylagas and Aritz Zaragueta Ruiz. They excluded for Zonzamas Plus Car Lanzarote Paula Fernández (min. 14:34) and Nahomi Márquez (min. 57:20); and for Rocasa Gran Canaria Almudena Rodríguez (min. 18:47), María Zaldua (min. 37:14), Eider Poles (min. 43:33), Martina Lang (min. 52:03) and Ana Medina (min. 55:15).
Incidents: Match corresponding to matchday 26 of the Liga Guerreras Iberdrola, played in the Municipal Pavilion of San Bartolomé before about 350 fans.