Obradoiro closed out its preseason with a potential game-winner in the air. The team fell 84-86 to Unicaja in the Xacobeo Trophy at Fontes do Sar, after erasing a 13-point deficit and tying the game at 84 with less than a minute remaining.
A first half of back-and-forth scoring
The opening was marked by local fouls: three in the first minute, with Joel Soriano picking up two personals before 60 seconds elapsed and Felipe dos Anjos adding the team's fourth shortly after.
Willy Hernangómez opened the visiting scoreboard with an offensive rebound, basket, and block on Soriano, and was the most decisive player for the Málaga side throughout the entire first half, consistently punishing on pick-and-roll.
Leo Meindl tied it with a three-pointer and Obradoiro went from more to less: they led 16-12 with a hook shot from Dos Anjos and a three from Brandon Childress, but a three from Lukosius sealed the visiting comeback (16-17). The first quarter ended tied at 19.
In the second, the exchange continued. Yunio Barrueta and Kendrick Perry traded three-pointers, Álex Barcello appeared on the scoreboard from beyond the arc, and Dani Díaz closed the first half with another three for 39-46.
The third quarter got away from them
It was the worst stretch for the Compostela side. Hernangómez continued escaping Soriano on pick-and-roll, Díaz put the 10-point difference on the board, and a three from Brazdeikis pushed the lead to 13, forcing Diego Epifanio to call a timeout.
Obradoiro didn't fall completely out of it. Dos Anjos persisted with an offensive rebound and basket, Childress and Lukosius traded three-pointers, and Meindl appeared again from outside to cut it to 10. A hook shot from Sergi Quintela and a three from Caleb Agada brought the team within seven (59-66), but the period closed at 62-72.
A comeback that came up short
The fourth quarter started with the same deficit and Obradoiro growing. A three from Agada energized the crowd, and a flagrant foul by Lukosius on Childress left it at 71-74. Michael Caicedo brought his team within one point.
From there, a stretch of inaccuracy from both sides: missed free throws, a missed three from Barrueta, and turnovers. Soriano struggled in the post but found the basket for 76-77.
Hernangómez responded with two free throws and a fast-break dunk for 76-81. Obradoiro didn't give up: Barrueta scored in the post, Meindl reached 20 points from the free-throw line, and Quintela finished a fast break.
With less than a minute and a two-point deficit, Soriano tied it at 84 with a short shot off the pick-and-roll. Cameron Hunt drew a foul and didn't miss from the line. Epifanio had just under three seconds to design the final play, and Meindl's three-pointer from deep didn't fall.