A CORUÑA — Monbus Obradoiro defeated Leyma Coruña 84-92 in the Galician derby of the Primera FEB, a result that allows Diego Epifanio's team to control its own destiny for direct promotion to the Liga Endesa, while also securing the head-to-head tiebreaker (2-0) against their rival.
The game started with a much more solid Leyma Coruña, controlling the pace from the opening tip. Carles Marco's squad delivered a high-level offensive first quarter (26-19), finding success from beyond the arc and punishing Monbus Obradoiro's defensive lapses. The home advantage grew to 32-24 midway through the second period, during the best stretch for the Coruña side.
However, Monbus Obradoiro managed to stay in the game thanks to the leadership of Leo Westermann, who kept his team alive during the most difficult moments. As the minutes progressed, the visitors adjusted defensively and found better offensive options, cutting into the deficit before halftime.
After the break came the turning point. Monbus Obradoiro elevated its offensive level significantly, posting 55 points in the second half and completely changing the dynamics of the contest. Diogo Brito, with 17 points, took on a prominent role in the offense, while the Galician team found fluidity and better reads to seize the initiative in the final stretch of the third quarter.
The game turned into a constant back-and-forth in the fourth period, with the score tied and both teams fighting for every possession. That's when Munnings appeared, scoring four consecutive points to open a decisive gap (78-86) with just minutes remaining. Leyma Coruña, despite its comeback attempts, could not close the gap down the stretch.
On the individual side, Leo Westermann led Monbus Obradoiro with 17 points and a rating of 18, well supported by Munnings, who contributed 13 points and a rating of 15. For Leyma Coruña, Joe Cremo stood out with 21 points on five three-pointers and a rating of 20, accompanied by Caio Pacheco's 13 points.
Monbus Obradoiro reaches this final stretch of the Primera FEB controlling its own destiny for direct promotion, with five games remaining against opponents like Cloud.Gal Ourense, Tizona Burgos, Movistar Estudiantes, Grupo Alega Cantabria, and Inveready Gipuzkoa.
For its part, Leyma Coruña maintains the lead thanks to one more victory in the standings, although with one more game played and rest in the final matchday, which could prove decisive in the final resolution of the championship.