Jasiel Rivero continues to add merits to be considered the best Cuban athlete in collective sports today, after being crowned with the Spanish club Hereda San Pablo Burgos in the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, whose decisive fight ended with a score of 82-73 and numbers relevant to the Antillean.
The Havana pivot contributed a double-double (ten points and ten rebounds) and was once again decisive with a strong game under the boards in crucial moments against the Argentine team Asociación Atlética Quimsa, which sold its defeat in the second section of the meeting.
Those led by Jorge Sebastián González were canceled in the first half, in which they finished below by 24 cards (56-32). With that panorama, it seemed that it was going to be a placid final for the Burgos, but Quimsa woke up after the break and got them into serious problems, to the point of deducting 15 points.
Jasiel Rivero in action. Photo: FIBA.
However, that reaction was not enough and the boys of Joan Peñarroya were left with the scepter, the ninth of a Spanish team in these matches after five from Real Madrid, two from Tenerife and one from Barcelona. It is worth noting that the Iberian country, the top winner of the competition, has reigned in four of the last six editions.
The coach of the winners pointed out that “winning easily in the finals is very difficult”, referring to the advantage lost by his team. However, he pointed out, his players clung to the game at all times despite the erratic performance of the second half.
In particular, the last quarter was very complex for San Pablo, who only scored four baskets on 15 shots from the field, two of them on Jasiel’s account. The Cuban was a fundamental piece in that electric closing, in which they sweated to sing the alirón.
“Very happy and excited. I never thought I would have these results and I hope that many more will come ”, the Havana center sentenced to Play Off magazine, where he also showed his commitment to preparing for the next challenges for Burgos, who will play the quarterfinals in the middle of this week. final of the Copa del Rey against Tenerife.
In almost 20 minutes on the court, Rivero led his team with ten rebounds (five offensive and five defensive), notably supported by American Ken Horton, a change player who captured eight balls under the boards.
Jasiel Rivero with the intercontinental champion trophy. Photo: Taken from the Twitter of San Pablo Burgos.
The leader of the Burgos offensive was Vitor Benite, who honored his stripes as captain. The Brazilian deserved the MVP of the match against Quimsa, after scoring 19 points, capturing two rebounds and distributing three assists.
Benite, who won the Intercontinental in 2014 with Flamengo, was happy because “the people in Burgos can enjoy” the victory, although he regretted that he cannot do it together with them.
“It’s the hardest,” said Benite, who added that “it is a city that breathes basketball, treats all players well in victories and defeats and is always with the team.”
Regarding the match, Benite confessed that “he did not expect less from Quimsa” a rival who “has fought to the end” when the Burgos team lacked success, while emphasizing that “the important thing is to have had favorable minutes at the end to be able to win ”.
“It is very difficult to play 40 minutes with the same intensity as the first half,” said the Brazilian, who recalled that they lack “a key piece in the team such as Alex Renfroe.
Hereda San Pablo Burgos and Jasiel Rivero earned the right to play the Intercontinental Cup last October, when they won the European Champions League after beating the Greeks at AEK Athens in the final.
With information from EFE
