Leyma Stages Incredible Comeback to Win Overtime Thriller in Palencia (102-104)

Leyma Básquet Coruña claimed their second preseason victory at Palencia's sports pavilion, but had to battle all the way to overtime: 102-104 against Palencia Baloncesto after nearly trailing by twenty points

A first half to forget

The orange squad started with the typical August shooting inconsistency, but the real problem lay elsewhere. Carles Marco could only count on Carlos Taboada and Ouwa Camara at center: the absences of Silins, Conditt and Skapintsev left the paint at the mercy of Natxo Lezkano's big men, with Tanor Ngom—one of the Primera FEB's top prospects—doing systematic damage.

The first quarter closed at 20-15 following a basket from former Leyma player Ingus Jakovics, and in the second Palencia extended to +11 with Jakovics and Littleson. Leyma got stuck on offense to the point of missing free throws regularly—57% in the first half—and only found relief with a mid-range shot and a three-pointer from Lukas Uleckas. Halftime arrived at 47-39 with Marco demanding better defense from his squad.

The third quarter turnaround

The restart began worse: an 8-0 Palencia run with Ngom and Vucetic. And that's when the game turned. Dimsa, Jacobo, Westermann and Jorgensen finally found their three-point stroke, Leyma answered the run with interest and pulled within three. A three-pointer from Cuevas closed the quarter and Radoncic capitalized on a technical foul to leave it 65-63 before the final ten minutes.

The fourth period was a constant back-and-forth. Uleckas put the Coruña side ahead for the first time with a three-pointer, Littleson answered the same way and Dino Radoncic responded with five straight points. Leyma tightened the screws on defense to get out in transition, and in one of those fast breaks Dimsa drew Ngom's fifth foul, forcing Lezkano to turn to Bieshaar and Vucetic.

The connection between Alonzo Verge and Radoncic in the pick-and-roll started paying dividends in the paint. Jakovics put Palencia up one with a minute remaining, Jorgensen answered from the corner and Littleson put the hosts back ahead with a putback. The final possession belonged to Leyma, but Verge's shot bounced off the rim: overtime at 93-93.

In the extra period, the Hercules side maintained the momentum from the second half and took the game despite some complications along the way, including an avoidable technical foul from Dimsa.

What the game showed

Beyond the scoreboard, the friendly offered useful takeaways. Westermann made his debut, and he appeared precisely when the team needed outside scoring. Verge's speed was on display, already known at the Coliseum before his stint at German side Rasta Vechta. And Radoncic showed good rhythm after the physical issues he carried into the final stretch of last season—a detail that matters as much as, if not more than, the victory.

On the negative side, the free throw percentages and interior fragility while the three absent centers remain sidelined. It's August, but the warning has been noted.