Agnieszka Bibrzycka led all the scorers with 25 points to save a win for Lotos VBW Clima Gdynia over Ros Caseras Valencia. In a game which was regarded as a revenge for the European Championship bronze medal game between Spain and Poland (which Spain won), the Polish team defeated the Spanish guests 89:83.
The game began with the Amaya Valemoro show. The captain of the Spanish team scored 12 points in the first quarter including two 3-pointers. But regardless of Valemoro´s outstanding play, Lotos VBW Clima managed to win this quarter 27:25.
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Amaya Valdemoro
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Gdynia started with Margo Dydek on the bench to speed up the tempo. But this style of playing fit proved more advantageous to the Spanish team, who led 43:38 in the 13th minute.
Margo came back with immediate impact and two nice defensive plays ending in succesful fastbreaks. But this wasn't enough to shake Valdemoro (6 points this quarter) and Co.,
at half time Ros Caseras led by 50:46.
Their strong defensive effort resulted in foul trouble for Gdynia and Elaine Powell, who commited her 4th foul early in the third quarter.
The American was benched and watched Agnieszka Bibrzycka take on a shooting battle against Ros Caseras. Bibrzycka hit two 3-pointers while Domingo Diaz's team answered with 5 points. Valdemoro first, than Bibrzycka went off the floor to have some rest after 2 mistakes in a row. Valencia was still ahead by 4 after the third quarter.
The final minutes of the game were nerve wracking for both sides. Gdynia lost the 213 cm Dydek, who fouled out with 10 points in the 31st minute. But Bibrzycka did it again, scoring two 3-pointers and assisting Chesity Melvin, who finished in the paint. But Valencia still held on to the lead.
With 50 seconds remaining the score was 85:83 for the host team. In the final play Bibrzycka was fouled and converted both free throws. After that Natalia Vodopyanova made a shot at the buzzer to seal the victory.
