Jabones Pardo Fuenlabrada started its ULEB Cup quest on Tuesday suffering to beat Snaidero Udine 90-83 after overtime at home. Francesc Solana led the hosts with 28 points, Richard Scott nailed 21, while Paco Martin and Berni Hernandez added 11 each. For the Italians, Demetrius Alexander hit 25 and Michele Mian added 12. With the win, Fuenlabrada starts with a 1-0 record while Snaidero Udine falls at 0-1.
A bad first half for the Spaniards was what Udine needed to score regularly from the three-point line, adding to a 13-for-27 shooting performance from deep at the end of the game as 8-for-21 by the hosts, thanks to Mian and Alexander Vujacic. After the first 10 minutes, the guests were already leading by 2, 20-22. Alexander dominated under the boards in the second quarter, scoring easily to forge a 10-point lead for his team, 36-46.
After resumption, Fuenlabrada stepped back on court, decided to avoid the Italian avalanche of the first 20 minutes. An aggressive zone defense, the hot wrist of Solana and the efficicency by Scott, with 10 of 13 in two-point shots, started to put an end to Udine's resistance. In minute 35, the hosts jumped ahead for thefirst time in the game, and the game remined tight until the end of regulation, when the score was tied at 81-81. In the extra period, Fuenlabrada increased its defensive intensity, which totally neutralized the offense of the guests. A basket by Solana and a three-pointer by David Wood were enough to bring the Italians down, who didn't know how to react until the final 90-83.
Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Eurocupbasketball.com