Emotional debut of UDECONCE at home vs Espanol with a last second decision

Saturday night, the anticipated battle for the lead was played on the debut at Casa del Deporte Gym.

Club Deportivo Universidad de Concepcion (CD UDECONCE) vs known rival visitors Espanol and first time clash Osorno Basquet.

October 16, 2010, was the first game of two games for Universidad de Concepcion at home on Group A for Liga Nacional de Basquetbol "Movistar" 2010, and was decided at the last second.

Espanol played Friday vs Aleman and it was a close win by Espanol [see article "Aleman blew a chance to beat candidate Espanol"].

CD UDECONCE vs Espanol

At 20:00 GMT -3, UDECONCE debuted, and also debuted foreign addition Jacquon "Jackie" Rogers, playing against Espanol Talca. Jackie Rogers did not influence the game, because he repeatedly blamed his only two practices with the team and getting to know the foul calls on the League.

The League included recording of the game to be broadcasted during the week on telecanal. On this game were local journalists, live stats plus this reporter narrating digital, high definition colored AUDIO, live at the scene in english.

The fans

With a renovated 3000 persons capacity, Casa del Deporte had only about 300 attendees, but the band played loud and big noise was heard when needed.

Espanol had the same team from Friday game [see article "Aleman blew a chance to beat candidate Espanol"], UDECONCE had Jackie Rogers, but Matias Villagran did not dress.

> First quarter

UDECONCE started with his best and so Espanol. Evandro Arteaga only needed 1 meter undefended to score a three pointer and he did so many times. There was low scoring from Espanol because of poor shooting options. UDECONCE got a difference so Coach Lavin was dissapointed. Fast offensive and shots under the board were well defended, so most of the shots were at distance. It seemed like there was no need for Jackie Rogers who did not start, and the final score was giving Coach Jorge Luis Alvarez the reason. UDECONCE 21-13 Espanol.

Second Quarter

Jackie Rogers was erratic, the fans were sleeping, it was a boring game, without controversies or big fouls. But then, drived by "Tachuela" [Tack] Francisco Bravo, came the rise of Espanol. Sebastian Saez, Franco Morales, Brandon Crawford got more physical and entered the painted area and attracted defense, fouls, and grabbed offensive rebounds. Espanol was setting the speed and it was fast. Jackie Rogers caught three fouls and was substituted. Cedric Crawford left but the bench was scoring and came back with a scoring drive taking them up by 4 (31-35). Espanol rotated well the fast players, and Samuel defended hard on his area but Evandro Arteaga was an unstoppable performer on UDECONCE. He scored excellent at the free throws, most triples and doubles, played the most minutes without many fouls or substitutions. UDECONCE 41-41 Espanol.

Third Quarter

It was an even game, with many lead changes, mostly good offensive, but the defensive transition was slow, so after a goal the scorers were left behind and the team was not able to defend an attack.

The teams (in basketball and other sports), the show, scoring and spectacular goals and celebration supercedes the defending. Strikers are famous, but, goalkeepers?

Continuing. A triple on one side, then come another on the other basket. Samuel Bravo got a fourth foul and left complaining. At the end of the quarter there was so much intensity it felt like the last. There were many fouls called, normal so far but... too many were missed, I counted 1 converted out of 6. But also there were three offensive rebounds taken. Intense. UDECONCE 64-67 Espanol.

Fourth Quarter

After resting for two minutes, we should expect new and better play but kept the same missed free throws that could have made the difference in such close game. Jackie Rogers caught his fourth foul and left the field. Espanol reached three players with four fouls. The fans continued to cheer up, specially after a triple by Evandro Arteaga or Eduardo Marechal, but then at the other side a basket (sometimes fast) silenced their mouths and it was quiet again. Eduardo Marechal did some of his stree-ball moves causing elastic shots inside the or a long three pointer that heated the audience; but there was heat on the field and bench too.

It was even but the last minutes can show you who can finish a game with a win. In Espanol Nick Morales just entered and could not adjust to the intense game: Espanol had three fouled out players. UDECONCE taking good shots, Espanol too irregular: offensive fouls, turnovers, missed free throws. Exciting final where Espanol could have won the game. UDECONCE up by one, seven seconds on the clock, Eduardo Marechal passing from own end zone to no other than Evandro Arteaga, the ball went out of bounds. Brandon Crawford took a shot from the free throw line, just missed, then Sebastian Saez tipped the offensive rebound at the board side, the ball bounced twice, fell out, and a second offensive rebound was taken, the buzzer sounded, a third shot entered the net too late. UDECONCE 84-83 Espanol.

Last offensives video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8-Ygw94Xl0

I interviewed Jackie Rogers and Brandon Crawford.

Jackie Rogers justified his performance on the "tough game" several times on having only "two practices with this team". He is "trying to get to know" the team, adjust to the way the fouls are called, different from Argentina, and do whatever he can to help. He said his physical condition was a "little bit behind". I asked about his injury, he responded that he has being playing after surgery three years ago.

Brandon Crawford said the team had poor shot decisions and lost too many free throws. He commented every player shoots one hundred free throws every practice but: "we only need to make them".

Espanol facing powerful team UDECONCE lost by bad performance and failing shots at the end

Game stats:
http://goo.gl/qQ1L
http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B6f4Ar6iv0SuY2I3ZWEwMDAtZDFmOS00NjM1LWI3NmYtMmM4NzQ4YjliYjIy

Rodrigo "AlleyGator" Hunrichse
20101016-20.