Bàsquet Girona look upward after McClung’s best game

Bàsquet Girona are looking upward after McClung’s best game. Their 101-87 win over Asisa Joventut on Sunday extended their perfect home record: FIATC Girona have now won all five games played at home. Mac McClung scored 23 points, Jassel Pérez 14 and Andrzej Pluta 18. The victory was also a fourth in a row for Moncho Fernández’s team across the Liga Endesa and the Copa FIBA Europa.

McClung’s display came in a game that shifted after an opening quarter in Asisa Joventut’s favour. They ended the period 27-17 ahead, with clear advantages in assists (7-1) and rebounds (15-5). Early in the second quarter, Jassel Pérez brought his side within 29-27, having already scored 12 points. Bàsquet Girona then took control: the quarter’s score reached 28-10, prompting Miret to call a second timeout with eight minutes remaining in the period.

Three-pointers from debutant Gregor Glas, who had joined on a temporary contract, and contributions from Pluta and McClung pushed the score to 45-37. Glas had been brought in because Pep Busquets and Maxi Fjellerup were unavailable. Girona went into half-time with a four-point lead, then David N'Guessan and Nikola Maric stretched it to 52-43. Asisa Joventut answered with an 11-2 run to close the gap to 54-52.

McClung then made four consecutive three-pointers, taking his tally to 21 and helping establish a new largest lead at 71-54. Asisa Joventut cut the margin to 72-63 before the final quarter, but Girona stayed in control. Laprovittola and Reyes led the resistance, yet the home side restored a 17-point advantage at 95-78 with four straight three-pointers from Dominykas Stenionis and Pluta. The game ended 101-87.

Boogie Ellis and Ludde Hakanson were absent. After this game, Girona moved above the Badalona team in the standings. Fontajau also celebrated a fourth consecutive derby win over Joventut. The Liga Endesa’s fifth-round game was played in front of 4,714 spectators at Pavelló de Fontajau in Girona.