Unicaja Málaga overcame a double-digit deficit Friday night to defeat MoraBanc Andorra 91-79 in a Liga Endesa matchup at the Palacio de los Deportes José María Martín Carpena. The victory, played before 8,390 spectators, extends unicajas winning streak to five games as they continue to contend near the league’s top spots. The game also carried personal importance for Andorra head coach Joan Tabak, a former player and champion with Unicaja [[3]].
Málaga, Spain – Unicaja Málaga mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback to defeat MoraBanc Andorra 91-79 on Friday, extending their winning streak to five games and solidifying their position near the top of the Liga Endesa standings. The victory was fueled by a strong performance from recent acquisition Justin Cobbs, who finished with 17 points, and 18 points from Dominican Republic forward Chris Duarte.
The contest held added significance for MoraBanc Andorra head coach ?an Tabak, who returned to the Martín Carpena arena where he concluded his professional playing career in 2005, and was a part of Unicaja’s first Copa del Rey championship team. Despite a strong showing for much of the game, Tabak’s squad couldn’t withstand Unicaja’s late surge.
Andorra started strong, but Unicaja responded with a lineup featuring Cobbs at point guard and Duarte drawing defensive attention, with James Webb III and Augustine Rubit controlling the boards. The game remained tight through the first half, with Cobbs contributing key baskets as he adjusts to his new team following the injury to Alberto Díaz.
A relentless defensive effort from MoraBanc, coupled with sharp shooting – including ten points in the first ten minutes from Aaron Best and a corner three from Shannon Evans – allowed them to build a 29-38 lead midway through the second quarter. However, Unicaja quickly answered after a timeout, sparked by Kendrick Perry, to close the gap to just three points by halftime.
Andorra came out firing in the third quarter, quickly extending their advantage to 43-51 with another triple from Evans. Unicaja struggled with their outside shooting, connecting on just 3 of 17 attempts from beyond the arc (17.6%) at that stage. The visitors maintained control, forcing Unicaja into rushed possessions and relying on Cobbs to generate offense.
Unicaja found a new gear in the final frame, finally connecting on shots from distance with Cobbs and Duarte leading the charge. This ignited a 31-16 run to close out the game, securing the victory and completing a dramatic turnaround. Unicaja took the lead for the first time since the end of the first quarter with 6:57 remaining, and never looked back.
Ficha técnica:
91- Unicaja (23+16+21+31): Perry (14), Kalinoski (9), Barreiro (0), Tyson Pérez (2), Balcerowski (2) -quinteto inicial- Cobbs (17), Duarte (18), Webb III (1), Sulejmanovic (5), Audige (3), Rubit (12).
79- Morabanc Andorra (22+20+21+16): Evans (12), Okoye (9), Ortega (7), Pons (6), Pustovyi (10) -quinteto inicial- Udeze (4), Best (17), Luz (6), McKoy (8), Guerrero (0).
Árbitros: Fernando Calatrava, Rafael Serrano y David Sánchez. Eliminado por faltas Artem Pustovyi, del Morabanc Andorra.
Incidencias: Partido correspondiente a la jornada 19 de la Liga Endesa, disputado en el Palacio de los Deportes José María Martín Carpena ante 8.390 espectadores.
