After more than month our Canadian player, Jusstin Edwards started to play, which was very positive news in Gaz street. He had a sesae bone frature, that is why he had to stay out from the games for several weeks, he was cured by alternative cures instead of a surgery. He started to practice on Monday and Tuesday. He started the semifinal on the bench against ZTE, pretty soon he joined the game. Th first points were scored by Norfleet, however, Ákos Keller answered with a bagging. Then also Norfleet scored, but Shepard scored a triple shot and the lead was in our hands, 5-4. Our happiness was not long lasting, because Julian Norfleet scored again and again, 5-10. Moreover, Zsolt Szabó also scored. After 4 minutes, at 8-19 Branislav Dzunic got bored of the lack of home points, he asked timeout. It did not help, because Drungilas incrased the difference. moreover, Ubilla scored as well, they got away by 15 points. James Farr changed Ákos Keller, Farr scored but in the sequel the difference did not decrease, moreover, it only grew due to Adomas Drungilas. After the first quarter the scoreboard showed 13-32, which was not so positive. We did not find the rythm, Wright scored twice from close Norfleet scored a triple shot and the result turned to 13-37. Soon the difference grew to 25 points after 15 minutes. We got closer by Péter Lóránt and Taylor, a 25-44 Tamás Bencze asked timeout. Not long after our head coach did the same, but it did not help, the opponent team dominated, Zsolt Szabó scored a triple shot and the scoreboard showed 30-53. The first half was closed by Szilárd Benke, 35-57.
After the switch Lóránt scored his penalties and we got closer, but we could not get within 20 points. Suddenly we got the rythm, Mohammed Edwards and Taylor all scored, we deceased the difference for 14 points, 46-60. Moreover, we got within 10 points due to Edwards. He scored again, also Shepard joined him, 56-60. At the end of the ending quarter ZTE got the rythm, with 60-69 result they returned for the last quarter. Farr bagged, Ákos Keller blocked and it seemed like the luck is on our side, however, we made mistakes in the attack and we lost the ball not only once. ZTE kept its 10-point difference, by Szabó they increased their difference, 64-77. We moved forward, Mohammed and Taylor were actives, but Mohácsi scored from far (71-80), Dzunic asked timeout. We did not give up, at 78-83 Tamás Bencze asked timeout one and half minutes before the end of the game, so did our head oach. In the last minute there was a timeout on both sides, we fought until the end, but in a huge battle the team of ZTE won (80-86), by taking our court advantage. The first game is over with an unexpected home failure. The next game is going to be on Frida in Zalaegerszeg at 19 o’clock PM.
Alba Fehérvár Puebla Plus -Zalakerámia ZTE KK 80-86 (13-32, 22-25, 25-12, 20-19)
Alba Regia Sportcentrum, 2100 spectators, led by: Pálla Z., Györffy P., Söjtöry T. (Dr. Páli K.)
Alba: Taylor 13/6, Mohammed 14/6, Shepard 6/3, Lóránt P. 11, Keller Á. 6. Changes: Edwards 19/12, Farr 11/3, Markovic -, Varga M. -, Head Coach: Branislav Dzunic
ZTE: Ubilla 14/3, Norfleet 23/12, Benke 7/3, Szabó Zs. 17/15, Drungilas 16/6, Changes: Wright 8, Mohácsi 3/3, Kis. R. -, Head Coach: Tamás Bencze
Translated by: Dóri Polczer