UCAM Murcia put in an incontestable performance against San Pablo Burgos, imposing their pace, their physicality and, above all, a devastating exterior success that marked the game from the first quarter.
With several players unleashed from the triple, and a dominant Cacok on the inside, the Murcians dismantled a San Pablo that only found a response in isolated actions by Corbalán.
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The game started with an intense San Pablo, finding quick points through Jhivvan Jackson and a solid start from Samuels in the paint. However, the good local start dissolved as soon as UCAM Murcia activated its most lethal weapon: the triple.
UCAM initial marking
Nakic opened the series from the outside and, from there, the first quarter clearly leaned towards the Murcian side. Ennis chained another pair of triples and Forrest joined the outside party, punishing again and again a Burgos defense unable to stop the visiting perimeter.
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San Pablo tried to respond with interior actions, Murcia, on the other hand, did not forgive. Between exterior success and energy actions by Cacok and Cate, the visitors closed the quarter with a clear advantage (20-28).
Cacok dominates painting
Murcia maintained absolute control of the game during the second quarter, with Cacok dominating in the paint and the local response took a long time to arrive.
UCAM alternated interior power with actions by Ennis, Raieste and De Julius, widening a gap reaching a 20-point advantage and San Pablo tried to resist with specific appearances from its exteriors.
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Murcia, much more solid and fluid, closed with a wide lead to face the second half (48-60).
The third quarter confirmed the absolute control of UCAM Murcia and although Corbalán tried to lead the local reaction with several consecutive actions, each small approach was met with an immediate response from the visiting team.
Corbalan, the only Burgos resistance
Murcia managed the pace with solvency and San Pablo only found continuity in Corbalán, but the missed free throws and the inability to stop Murcia's outside success prevented any comeback, even though they pushed at the end to finish again with -13 on the scoreboard (73-86).
San Pablo tried to hold on to the game at the start of the last quarter, but UCAM Murcia maintained control, especially on the rebound.
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Fischer tried to reactivate the Burgos team (80-90), but Cacok once again imposed his physicality with two consecutive actions (80-94) and forced Bruno Savignani to stop the game.
The closing of the game offered no room for surprise. De Julius and Forrest took over with a devastating streak from the perimeter and in transition.
A Forrest unleashed
After another timeout from Bruno, Corbalán continued competing (85-101), but Forrest continued completely unleashed, chaining point after point until the clash was definitively broken (86-110).
In the final seconds, Nzosa closed the local score (88-110), in an outcome that reflected Murcia's superiority in the final stretch.
Technical sheet:
88 – Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos (20+26+27+15): Jermaine Samuels (6), Jon Axel Gudmundsson (2), Pablo Almazán (0), Luke Fisher (12), Jhivvan Jackson (15) – starting five – Yannick Nzosa (2), Juan Rubio (0), Gonzalo Corbalán (25), Dani Díez (2), Raúl Neto (6), Leo Meindl 10) and Ethan Happ (6).
110 – UCAM Murcia (28+30+28+24): Devontae Cacok (19), Sander Raieste (12), David Dejulius (15), Dylan Ennis (17), Toni Nakic (11) – initial start – Michael Forrest (17), Dani García (-), Howard Sant-Roos (14), Wilhem Falk (0), Emmanuel Cate (3), Moussa Diagne (2), Zach Hicks (0).
Referees: Sergio Manuel Rodríguez, Alberto Sánchez Sixto and Carlos Merino. San Pablo Burgos players Luke Fischer and Jhivvan Jackson were eliminated for five personal fouls.
Incidences: Matchday 9 of the Endesa League (ACB) played at the Coliseum Burgos before 9,085 spectators.
