BAXI Manresa overturned a double-digit deficit in the second half to claim a 74-79 victory over Bàsquet Girona at Fontajau, opening the 31st round of the Liga Endesa with a dramatic derby win. The visitors’ defense tightened after the break, stifling the home side’s attack and capitalizing on a late surge to snatch the triumph.
Neither team had much at stake in the standings—Girona sat 10th and Manresa 12th, with slim chances of reaching the playoff zone held by Unicaja or falling into relegation danger near MoraBanc Andorra. Still, the regional rivalry fueled intensity from the tip-off.
Girona started stronger, riding an 11-2 run in the first quarter fueled by Livingston’s early scoring to build a lead. Though Manresa improved slightly in the second period, they couldn’t close the gap, and the hosts took a 43-32 advantage into halftime.
Everything changed after the intermission. Tactical adjustments sharpened Manresa’s offense while Girona’s shooting collapsed, hitting just 2-of-14 (14.29%) from the field in the third quarter. Despite that, the home side maintained a seven-point cushion entering the final frame. But the visitors exploded with a 5-16 run to level the score for the first time all night, and Diego Ocampo’s squad finished strong to secure the road win.
Livingston led Girona with 15 points but faded down the stretch, while Hildreth added 11. For Manresa, Bassasm was the game’s top scorer with 21 points plus four rebounds, and Ubal earned MVP honors with a 15-point, 7-rebound double-double.