LLEIDA. Hiopos Lleida took a decisive step toward securing their Liga Endesa survival after defeating Dreamland Gran Canaria 75-72 in an absolutely dramatic finish decided by a game-winning three-pointer from James Batemon with six seconds remaining. The Lleida side dominated by more than twenty points, suffered a fourth-quarter comeback from the visitors, but found the composure needed to secure a crucial victory at a packed Barris Nord.
The game started with plenty of tension and limited accuracy. Both teams fell victim to nerves in the opening minutes, aware of the playoff implications of the matchup. In that tense atmosphere, Hiopos Lleida began finding better offensive rhythm thanks to their energy on the boards and more fluid pace in attack. The home side started to build a lead midway through the first quarter, reaching 11-4 after imposing greater control of the game.
Dreamland Gran Canaria improved slightly in the closing stages of the first period, though they continued to struggle with defensive rebounding. That weakness allowed the Catalans to maintain their lead and close the first quarter ahead (16-9).
The momentum continued into the second quarter. The team coached by Gerard Encuentra found solutions through team play and punished every defensive lapse from the Canary Islands side.
Dani García extended the lead to fourteen points midway through the quarter (32-18), forcing Néstor 'Che' García to call another timeout.
However, the visitors' comeback didn't materialize before halftime. Hiopos Lleida remained comfortable on the court, dominating the boards and moving the ball with purpose to extend their advantage against an offensively stalled Dreamland Gran Canaria. The home side went into the locker room with a solid sixteen-point lead (40-24) and projecting complete control.
After the break, the game entered a back-and-forth phase where nothing seemed capable of altering the course of the match. Hiopos Lleida even surpassed the twenty-point margin following a run that put them up 52-31 midway through the third quarter.
But just when the game appeared virtually decided, Dreamland Gran Canaria mounted their comeback. Isaiah Wong strung together several high-level possessions and, alongside a three-pointer from Kassius Robertson, led a run that brought the visitors back into the game in just minutes. The yellow team quickly cut into the deficit and began to sow doubt in the Catalan squad.
Barris Nord went from calm to absolute tension in the fourth quarter. Pierre Pelos and Andrew Albicy definitively spearheaded the visitors' comeback, bringing Dreamland Gran Canaria to within four points. Shortly after, a three-pointer from Chimezie Metu capped the Canary Islands comeback and gave the visitors their first lead of the game (62-67) with just over four minutes remaining.
With the game slipping away and the atmosphere completely frozen, James Batemon emerged as the key figure. The shooting guard assumed all offensive responsibility for Hiopos Lleida in the decisive stretch and kept the home side afloat when things looked darkest. His plays allowed them to tie the score at 70 points with two minutes remaining.
In the final moments, Dreamland Gran Canaria had chances to complete their comeback, but Pierre Pelos couldn't convert an important three-pointer. Then Batemon appeared again to deliver the game-deciding play. The home shooting guard nailed a spectacular three-pointer with six seconds left that sent Barris Nord into eruption and set the final score at 75-72.
The Canary Islands team still had one final possession, but neither Brussino nor Metu found success on their final attempts from beyond the arc, allowing the victory to stay in Lleida. A win that leaves Hiopos Lleida on the brink of securing survival and makes James Batemon the hero of an afternoon that could define the future of the Lleida squad.
Oriol Paulí was one of the most complete players on the court with 17 points and 11 rebounds, while Batemon also finished with 17 points, eleven of them in the fourth quarter. For Dreamland Gran Canaria, Isaiah Wong's 21 points and Pierre Pelos' double-double weren't enough, as he finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
75 - Hiopos Lleida (16+24+16+19): Ejim (4), Agada (6), Paulí (17), García (8), Diagne (5) - starting five - Batemon (17), Walden (-), Rodríguez (4), Jiménez (2), Shurna (-) and Krutwig (12).
72 - Dreamland Gran Canaria (9+15+22+26): Albicy (2), Brussino (5), Tobey (4), Metu (10), Robertson (6) - starting five - Wong (21), Vila (2), Samar (-), Alocén (2), Pelos (17) and Jefferson (3).