Unicaja Routs Insolac Caja 87 to Claim 19th Copa de Andalucia Title

Unicaja claimed its 19th Copa de Andalucia crown on Saturday, cruising to an 86-61 win over Insolac Caja 87 in the final at the Palacio Municipal de Deportes de Vista Alegre in Cordoba, putting the outcome beyond doubt as early as the first quarter against a Seville club making its first appearance in the tournament's title game. Melwin Pantzar (190-PG-2000)'s opening three-pointer sparked a 10-2 Unicaja start, and the Malaga side closed the first quarter ahead 23-11 behind a pair of three-point plays from Tyson Perez (202-PF-1996) and Nihad Djedovic (197-SF-1990).
Unicaja kept building through the second quarter on fast breaks and hot shooting from Ignas Brazdeikis (201-G/F-1999, college: Michigan) and Melwin Pantzar, stretching the lead to 20 points before Caja 87 enjoyed its best stretch of the game, cutting the deficit to 11 with back-to-back threes and a string of free throws from Latorre that briefly energized the traveling Seville fans. Cameron Hunt (192-SG-1997, college: Southwestern, KS)'s buzzer-beating three-point play snuffed out that rally, and the pattern repeated after halftime as Unicaja pushed back out to 21 points on a Simonas Lukosius (202-G/F-2002, college: Cincinnati) three before Caja 87 answered again with consecutive threes from Nacho Arroyo; Willy Hernangomez (210-C-1994) and Djedovic restored the 20-point margin, and Unicaja led 65-45 through three quarters. The lead swelled to 23 points to open the fourth and reached a game-high 25 points soon after, with Kendrick Perry (183-PG-1992, college: YSU) hitting two threes in that stretch, before the final margin settled at 86-61 as both coaches used the closing minutes to get more players onto the floor.
Ignas Brazdeikis was named tournament MVP after finishing with 15 points, 8 rebounds and an 18 efficiency rating, the headline performance in a final that also marked the debuts of new Unicaja signings Melwin Pantzar, Hernangomez and Amine Noua (202-PF-1997). Kendrick Perry added 11 points and Jonathan Barreiro (203-F-1997, agency: Octagon Europe) scored 9 for Unicaja, while Ramon Vila (204-F/C-1997, college: Chattanooga) led Caja 87 with 9 points and Aanen Moody (190-G-1998, college: Montana), Archange Izaw-Bolavie (210-C-2001) and Arroyo each finished with 8.