Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto complete an epic comeback against GlobalCaja Ciudad Encantada

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto won 29–27 this afternoon against GlobalCaja Ciudad Encantada in a match in which Fertiberia suffered for much of the game but found the strength to overcome a six-goal half-time deficit in the final ten minutes.

In the opening minutes, Fertiberia looked far from comfortable on the court, allowing the Cuenca side to take the first lead (1–3). The red-and-whites did not lower their arms and tightened up in defence to turn the scoreboard around (5–4). Thanks to an inspired Oliva, the Cuenca side moved back in front (6–8), with the Valencians unable to do anything about it. Fertiberia remained somewhat blocked in attack, with only Malasinskas able to find the net, so Patxi Martí had to stop the match with a timeout after seeing his team short of ideas. GlobalCaja Ciudad Encantada established a six-goal lead before half-time (12–18), having made no mistakes in attacks led by Balaguer and Renaud against an unproductive Fertiberia.

The red-and-whites emerged from the changing rooms more clinical in front of goal and reduced the deficit to three goals (17–20), despite Bernatonis receiving his second exclusion immediately after the second half began. Fertiberia battled against the tide after adjusting their defence and with Bruixola coming into his own, saving the opponents’ chances. Midway through the second half, the match entered a phase of numerous exclusions for both teams and defensive imbalances. The Cuenca side failed to close out the match, and Fertiberia showed signs of improvement by levelling the score at 26. In the final five minutes, the red-and-whites moved ahead on the scoreboard for the first time (28–27), prompting the opposing coach to call a timeout to halt the home side’s surge. In the end, Fertiberia completed the long-awaited comeback and claimed their first two points of the second half of the season.

Fertiberia’s next fixture will be next Wednesday against Naturhouse La Rioja, from 20:30 at the Ovni, in the 18th round of the league, with Sportmanía cameras in attendance.

Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto: Sebastiá, Bruixola, Bernatonis (2), Malasinskas (10), Rubén Ruiz, Sladic (2), Moriñigo, Tarrasó (1), Álvarez (6), Berrios (1), Plaza (4), Toni Alegre (1), Nebot, Fernández, Dukic (2) and Roque.

GlobalCaja Ciudad Encantada: Moya del Saz, Fernández, Pérez-Ortiz (2), Tolmos (1), Ibañez, Welsau (3), Oliva, Renaud (4), Mateo Pérez, Marchan (1), Valles (4), López, Frade (3) and Balaguer (9).

Referees: Manuel Casado Fernández and Manuel Vera Avila (Andalusian Referees’ Association).

For Fertiberia BM Puerto Sagunto, Bernatonis (2), Berrios (2), Nebot and Fernández were excluded; for GlobalCaja Ciudad Encantada, Renaud, Frade and Balaguer were excluded.

Score at five-minute intervals:  2–3, 5–4, 6–8, 8–9, 10–14, 12–18 Half-time 16–20, 19–21, 22–24, 23–25, 26–26, 29–27 Full-time. Municipal Internúcleos Sports Centre “Ovni”. 1,500 spectators.

Translation produced using artificial intelligence.