This match featured a swingy start as Pontevedra Swan faced Benidorm in a tense Asobal league duel. The Spaniards opened with energy, pushing Benidorm into a rare early deficit. The Benidorm defense showed some cracks, while the Brazilian goalkeeper Franzini wreaked havoc on several high-speed counters, finishing with a moments-long stretch of saves that shook the home side. By the end of a physical first half, the scoreline remained tight, and the teams argued the advantage with stubborn intensity. The visitors claimed a three-goal edge at one point, but Pontevedra rallied hard, using quick transitions and disciplined defense to claw back and trim the gap. Roberto Rodriguez anticipated many attempts, keeping his team within striking distance as the period wound down.
Benidorm began to find a rhythm after a surprising 1-4 deficit, prompting Javier Márquez to consider changes early in the game. The Galician unit, dealing with injuries, steadied itself and used smart rotations to keep fresh legs on the court. Cavalcanti and Chan stepped up to level the score, and Carlos Álvarez, showing his international class, looked dangerous on counterattacks before Cisne briefly edged ahead. Roberto Rodriguez, however, was equal to the task, reading Álvarez’s attempts and thwarting several threatening shots.
Netminder Franzini kept his team alive with a series of crucial saves that anchored Benidorm as the first half wore on. The defense at times appeared soft, and the offense lacked fluency, but the goalkeeper’s presence provided a stabilizing force. The teams entered the break tied at 15-15, a testament to the work rate on display and the stubborn resolve of both sides. Without the contributions of Argentine playmaker Vainstein and Iker Serrano’s impressive six-metre work, Pontevedra would not have balanced the scales so evenly. The mood remained tense as the stands watched closely.
The second period opened with a mirror image of the first: Benidorm stealing momentum early with a 0-3 burst that pushed the score to 15-18 by the 33rd minute. Yet Franzini’s shot-stopping heroics and a noticeably more dynamic Pontevedra outfit changed the complexion of the game. Chan asserted control on the left and produced several decisive plays, shifting the balance decisively toward Cisne. Latorre stepped in to halt a Pontevedra surge with a timely timeout and a calm approach from the bench, while Pontevedra continued to move the ball quickly and look for gaps in the Benidorm defense.
As the game progressed, the tempo remained relentless. Benidorm’s defense mustered stops at crucial junctures, but the pressure from Pontevedra began to tell. Samu Ibáñez replaced Roberton and increased the intensity of Pontevedra’s defensive setup, contributing to a 5-1 adjustment that helped swing the momentum. The tactical chess match produced a sequence of rapid exchanges, with neither side willing to yield. A dramatic twist surfaced when a string of aggressive plays from Pontevedra was interrupted by a red card to Calvo in the 50th minute, adding drama to a match that had already delivered plenty of edge. Benidorm capitalized on the moment and began to push for a late comeback, with Iván Rodríguez again central to his team’s efforts.
The decisive stretch came when Cisne capitalized on high-efficiency offense and careful game management. Benidorm’s resilience kept the door ajar, yet the Pontevedra squad found the necessary answers to maintain their lead. The final minutes saw a flurry of activity as both teams pressed for the win, and the defense on both sides clamped down when it mattered most. Iván Rodríguez’s late fouls contested the rhythm of Benidorm, but the visitors managed to hold on for a 27-23 advantage as the clock dwindled toward the finish. The late resurgence of Benidorm underscored the competitiveness of the two sides, but Cisne’s defense held firm to secure the result.
DATA SHEET:
PONTEVERA Swan: Kilian Ramírez, Carlos Álvarez (2), Pombo (5), Cavalcanti (4), Calvo, Franceschetti (3) and Mateo Arias (1) – starting team- Franzini (ps), Ocaña, Chan (11.6p) , Conde (1), Andre De Moura (4), Javi Vazquez,
BENIDORM: Roberto, Ramiro Martínez (3.1p), Sotic (2), Grau, Ligniers (5), Barceló (3) and Iván Rodríguez (6) -starter- Bernatonis (2.1p), Sempere (1), Rubén Filipe (1), Sokak (4), Nikcevic (1).
EVERY 5 MINUTES MARK: 3-5, 7-7, 8-9, 10-11, 13-15, 15-15 (rest); 16-19, 20-20, 24-21, 27-23, 28-26 and 31-28.
REFEREES: Friera Cavada and Rosendo López. Calvo (min.50) and Ligniers (min.53) showed a direct red card. They also excluded Arias and Ocaña by the Swan.
EVENTS: The match, which coincided with the second day of the Asobal league, was played in front of 600 spectators at the Principe Felipe de Pontevedra sports center.
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