TM Benidorm secured a hard-earned victory on a pitch that presented one of the toughest challenges of the tournament, edging out Ángel Ximénez with a final score of 29-39. The win showcased a balanced display from Benidorm, who managed to keep Ángel Ximénez at a safe distance from Puente Genil through relentless pressure on both ends of the court.
The opening period unfolded with a relatively even contest. As the game progressed, Benidorm began to find more openings, exploiting gaps in the defense and turning them into prime shooting opportunities. Samu Ibáñez delivered a standout performance in goal, producing a disciplined shot-stopping display that halted the local momentum and gave his team a crucial confidence boost.
Coach Ángel Ximénez found himself staring at a four-goal hole at the end of the first segment, a margin that briefly grew to six before the Andalusian side regained some momentum. A handful of defensive steals helped Benidorm nudge the score back in their favor, and by halftime the scoreline read 13-17 in favor of the visitors, signaling that the game was far from settled.
The second half began with continued dominance from Sergio Carballeira’s group. Benidorm stretched their lead to as many as seven goals in succession, while the home team leaned on Luisfe Reina to spark counterattacks and maintain their fighting spirit. David Roca anchored the visitors’ finishing, placing precise shots to keep the advantage untouched.
Benidorm seals the win
The match intensified into a back-and-forth period of heavy exchanges. The local coach pressed for a quick remedy and called a timeout to reset his roster, but Benidorm responded decisively, keeping the momentum and strengthening their grip on the result. Mirko Durovic controlled the tempo at crucial moments, while Nacho Valles served as the top scorer for the duel, tallying seven goals and driving counter-attacks from the wings that increased the final margin. The team’s collective performance, marked by disciplined defense and efficient transition play, extended the lead to a comfortable ten goals as the clock wound down.
After earning the two points, TM Benidorm will prepare for an intense week of practice. The team will shift training to Altea due to scheduling demands associated with the darts championship, which requires a temporary relocation from Palau d’Esports. The next match is set for Saturday at 18:30, facing REBI Balonmano Cuenca at the Garganes Pavilion in Altea.
MATCH COMMITTEE
ÁNGEL XIMÉNEZ: De Hita, Ben Tekaya; Maildo, Cabello, Keita, Bernabeu, Cuenca, Jiménez, Andrés, Aizen, Arsenash, Boskos, De Sousa, Jung, Ribeiro and Janosi.
TM BENIDORM: Ibáñez, Witkowski; Vujovic, Barceló, Oliver, Zhukov, De Angelis, Robledo, Alonso, Sempere, Martínez, Durovic, Valles and Roca.
EACH 5′ POINTS: 1-1, 2-4, 6-7, 7-10, 9-13, 13-17, 15-19, 18-25, 22-30, 24-32, 26-34 and 29-39.
REFEREES: Yon Bustamante and Javier Álvarez.
PAVILION: Mayor Miguel Salas.