MoraBanc Andorra Drops into Relegation Zone After 82-75 Loss to Girona Amid Power Outages

MoraBanc Andorra lost 82-75 to Bàsquet Girona on Sunday at Fontajau Pavilion, dropping into the relegation zone after Burgos defeated Baskonia. The defeat marked Andorra's 16th loss in 22 rounds, leaving them tied on six wins with Burgos and Casademont Zaragoza in penúltima position, with 12 games remaining.

The match faced repeated disruptions from power failures—three full outages plus pre-game flickers—each halting play for about 20 minutes and stretching the game to 2 hours and 35 minutes before 4,734 spectators. Girona fans protested with whistles and a banner demanding "Volem un pavelló digne." Club president Marc Gasol showed clear frustration from the stands, alongside Andorra's Gorka Aixàs and executive Francesc Solana.

Without Shannon Evans (calf injury) or Morris Udeze, coach Žan Tabak started Rafa Luz, Aaron Best, Stan Okoye, Justin McKoy, and Artem Pustovyi. Andorra struggled early, scoring just 12 first-quarter points on eight turnovers, with Sir'Jabari Rice missing all four shots and committing five. Kyle Kuric hit a three—his 100th for the club, off Luz's 1,000th ACB assist—before the first blackout left the score at 18-12.

Girona opened the second with a 9-0 run, leading 41-27 at halftime on Pep Busquets's last-second three. Andorra shot 3-of-16 on twos and trailed 22-4 in paint points at times, forcing multiple Tabak timeouts amid Rice's errors.

Girona reached 56-33 late in the third before the second outage. Okoye scored seven straight after the restart, closing to 60-44. Andorra's fourth-quarter surge—a 25-7 run—brought them within five at 65-60 on triples from Okoye, Yves Pons, and Rice, plus Dimitar Kostadinov's inside work. Okoye added another three, but Otis Livingston's 7-0 reply and turnovers sealed it. A third blackout hit with 19 seconds left.

Rice led Andorra with 19 points, Okoye 15, Kuric 13, and Pons 11. Girona's top scorers: Livingston 16, Busquets 14, Martinas Geben 11, Nikola Marić 10. Needham and Pons fouled out; Kostadinov exited on fouls.

Tabak blamed physical gaps and poor execution, not complacency. "There was a clear difference in physical level from the start that we couldn't manage," he said. "We need wins—nothing else. Keep a cool head now. If emotions take over, getting out will be tough." Andorra host ninth-placed Bilbao Basket next Saturday at 7 p.m. in Toni Martí Pavilion.