The Spanish showed why they are considered the favorites to advance from Group B. The Academics did not give up without a fight, but ultimately suffered a heavy defeat. Polski Cukier AZS UMCS Lublin lost at home to Hozono Global Jairis 58-83.
The visiting team had a better start to the game, and coach Krzysztof Szewczyk quickly decided to call a timeout (4-11). However, the Green and White team still lacked accuracy, something their opponents couldn’t complain about (7-18). Hope for a change in the game’s outcome came from Stella Johnson, whose shots gave Lublin fans belief in a comeback (14-20). The American player scored 11 points in the first quarter alone. Despite her good performance, it wasn’t enough to stop the surging Spaniards, who completely dominated the end of the quarter (18-31).
The next 10 minutes started well for the Lublin players, and their deficit against the Jairis team began to shrink (24-31). The Spaniards stood out with their high shooting accuracy, which allowed them to regain a strong lead (26-43). Even when their opponents made mistakes, AZS UMCS couldn’t capitalize on their chances (29-48). Hozono Global also excelled defensively, forcing the academic players into taking difficult, inaccurate shots due to their aggressive and tight defense (31-54). As a result, coach Bernat Canut Font’s team went into halftime with nearly a 20-point lead (38-57).
The second half began with an even exchange of blows (45-65). The academic players improved defensively but made numerous mistakes under their opponents’ basket (47-68). In this part of the game, the key player for the home team was Laura Miškinienė, who was grabbing rebound after rebound. Throughout the entire game, she collected 8 rebounds and scored 10 points. However, this wasn’t enough to close the gap with their opponents (52-71).
At the start of the final quarter, both teams saw their shooting accuracy drop, which was especially detrimental to the Green and White team as their deficit didn’t decrease (56-81). During this period, the Jairis team focused on defense, and the Lublin players struggled to score points. This continued until the final buzzer, resulting in AZS UMCS losing the match 58-83.
„We played great as a team today, especially offensively. A lot of shots were going in, we shared the ball well, but we still have some work to do on defense. It’s tough to play against the Lublin team; we knew they had good players,” said Petra Holesinska, a player for Hozono Global Jairis.
„We have great respect for the Lublin team, and we approached this game with that mindset. From the warm-up, I could see that my players were focused on the game, which helped us start the contest well. Overall, I’m very pleased with the team’s performance,” assessed the Spanish team’s coach, Bernat Canut Font.
„Playing in the EuroCup is a great experience for me. It’s the highest level of competition I’ve had the chance to participate in so far. I’m making the most of the minutes I get and trying to use them as best I can,” said Maja Kusiak, a player for AZS UMCS.
„In the first half, it was hard to call our defense basketball. I told the girls at halftime that such an effort at the EuroCup level is embarrassing; allowing 57 points is unacceptable for us. The second half defensively was better because we showed that we can defend. I’m concerned about two injuries to foreign players, which is a problem for us,” commented the academic team’s coach, Krzysztof Szewczyk.
Polski Cukier AZS UMCS Lublin – Hozono Global Jairis 58-83 (18-31, 20-26, 14-14, 6-12)
AZS UMCS: Johnson (19), Miskiniene (10), Stanacev (7), Ullmann (5), Szymkiewicz (4), Kulińska (4), Zempare (4), Trzeciak (3), Kusiak (2), Adamczuk, Goszczyńska, Nassisi.
Jairis: Holesinska (24), Bertsch (16), Senechal (10), Ginzo (8), Alarcon (6), Massey (6), Ayuso (5), Nelson (5), Niemojewska (3), Visscher.
[Poland Travel]
Poland is a country with a rich history, picturesque landscapes, and diverse culture. From vibrant cities like Warsaw and Krakow to the charming corners of the Tatra Mountains and the Baltic Sea, there is something for everyone here. Taste traditional Polish cuisine, explore medieval castles, and enjoy the hospitality we’re known for. Come to Poland and discover its unique charm!
Dear Jairis fans! Thank you so much for your visit, and we hope to see you again in Poland soon. Our country has many beautiful places where you can relax and explore. Poland is full of green, safe cities, rich in history and culture, with beautiful old towns. See you again in Poland!
