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may 10 2026ANDORRA LA VELLA. MoraBanc Andorra secured a crucial Liga Endesa victory on Sunday, defeating BAXI Manresa 104-94 in a game dominated by an outstanding Artem Pustovyi. The Ukrainian center scored 27 points and was the standout player for Žan Tabak's squad in a win that keeps the Principality side dreaming of ACB survival and level with Casademont Zaragoza, Dreamland Gran Canaria, and Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos in the win column.
MoraBanc Andorra started the game with strong offensive rhythm and quickly found superiority in the paint thanks to Artem Pustovyi. The Ukrainian big man dominated from the opening minutes and allowed the home side to open an early lead at 19-12 after completing a 2+1 that gave him seven points.
However, not everything went smoothly for Žan Tabak's team early on. Aaron Best and Kostadinov quickly picked up personal fouls, a situation BAXI Manresa capitalized on to respond. The entry of Agustín Ubal changed the visiting team's offensive rhythm, and his 11 points helped Diego Ocampo's squad level the game at 26. A three-pointer from McKoy and a final play by Álex Reyes left the score at 29-28 at the end of the first quarter.
The tie remained throughout much of the second period, but MoraBanc Andorra delivered an important blow midway through the quarter. With the score tied at 37, the home side put together an 11-1 run that momentarily broke open the game and extended the lead to 48-38.
The improved defense of the Andorran squad proved decisive in that stretch, while Shannon Evans II began to take on offensive responsibility alongside the constant dominance of Artem Pustovyi under the basket. The Ukrainian center repeatedly punished BAXI Manresa's defense and became an impossible problem for the visitors to solve.
After halftime, MoraBanc Andorra reached its best offensive form. Sir'Jabari Rice appeared with important baskets and Pustovyi continued to impose his will in the paint to push the lead to 75-62.
BAXI Manresa tried to stay alive thanks to the outside accuracy of Álex Reyes and Ferran Bassas. A 1-8 run brought the Catalans within 76-70 and created some doubt for the home team. But MoraBanc Andorra's response was immediate. A dunk from Kostadinov started a powerful 11-2 run that returned complete control to Žan Tabak's side and extended the lead to 87-72, the game's largest margin to that point.
The game still had one final visiting attempt. BAXI Manresa opened the fourth quarter with an 0-8 run that cut the deficit to 87-81 and put pressure back on MoraBanc Andorra. But just when the Catalan squad was pressing hardest, Yves Pons appeared with a crucial three-pointer that stopped the comeback.
From there, the Principality side regained control of the game's rhythm thanks to their defensive aggression and offensive accuracy from their key players. Ferran Bassas made it 98-91 with just over two minutes remaining, but a three-pointer from Sir'Jabari Rice sealed an essential victory for MoraBanc Andorra in their fight for Liga Endesa survival.
With this win, Žan Tabak's squad remains fully alive in the battle to avoid relegation from the ACB, while BAXI Manresa lets slip an important opportunity in a decisive stretch of the season.
