When wanting is not enough

Alser Puerto Sagunto lost to C. BM. Torrevieja 22-32, in a match in which the red-and-whites were powerless against a superior opponent from the outset, who took both points.

Torrevieja tightened their defence from the beginning, causing the red-and-whites many problems early on. It was not until the 11th minute that Alser levelled the score at 11-11. The visiting side soon moved ahead thanks to Pejanovic’s saves and their accuracy in attack, allowing them to establish a five-goal lead. Alberto Estornell used two time-outs to organise the team on court and try to overcome the problems in attack, but Alser were unfocused and suffered two suspensions that Torrevieja knew how to exploit, going into half-time 10-17 ahead.

At the start of the second half, Alser made changes in defence and reduced the deficit to just three goals, but once again the visitors increased the intensity and moved further ahead at 19-24, helped by Pejanovic’s saves and goals from Chernov and Novelle. The match became an uphill struggle for the red-and-whites after 50 minutes in which their attacking ineffectiveness was all too evident. Faced with this disadvantage, Alberto Estornell called a time-out and instructed his players to be more focused in defence, marking the goalscorer Novelle man-to-man. Nevertheless, the team displayed hurried, desperate play in an attempt to reduce the deficit, and the scoreboard eventually read 22-32.

In short, Alser have once again let two points slip away at home and the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. Next Saturday the 17th, they travel to La Rioja to face Naturhouse in the 21st round of the Asobal league.

Alser Puerto Sagunto: Bruixola, Samuel, Moya del Saz, Ruiz, Sorrentino (3), Moya (3), Stefanovic (3), Sifré (7), Tarrasó (1), Toni Alegre, Nebot (1), A. Fernández, Prendes (3) and Cid (1).

C. BM. Torrevieja: Pejanovic, Jorge (6), Ortigosa, Rochel (4), Eloy (2), Hector, Juan Castro (1), Vidal, Novelle (5), Pablo, Chernov (5), Salinas (4), Cuartero (5), Rasic.

Referees: Ion Bustamante López and Javier Álvarez Mata. Suspensions for Alser Puerto Sagunto: Ruiz, Sorrentino, A. Fernández and Cid; for C. BM. Torrevieja: Eloy (2), Novelle, Rasic.

Score at five-minute intervals: 2-5, 5-6, 7-8, 7-11, 9-13, 10-17 Half-time 13-18, 16-20, 18-21, 19-24, 20-28, 22-32. Full-time.

Municipal Sports Hall “Ovni”. 1,200 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.