Led by a focused Guerschon Yabusele and by Mario HezonjaReal Madrid achieved this Friday a clear victory at Fonteta (68-79) that keeps you alive in the fight for the head of the Endesa League and that leaves the Valencia Basketball with no margin for error to maintain eighth place and fight for the title at crossroads.
the inertia of his epic victory against Partizan on Wednesday was stronger than the fatigue of Chus Mateo’s team, who led the start. Some rotations of the Madrid team helped (several forced by injuries) and Guerschon Yabusele’s points, but also the lack of success of the locals. The first errors undermined the fragile morale of Álex Mumbrú’s men (4-14, m.6).
The entry of Martin Hermannsson and Jonah Radebaugh calmed the game for Valencia and the intensity and success of James Webb III and Bojan Dubljevic allowed them to get into the match despite the explosive entry of Mario Hezonja. The local team adjusted the score to the maximum, but the visitors squeezed the points from Walter Tavares to stay on top (23-24, m.14).
Chris Jones finished off Valencia’s comebackbut a brilliant Hezonja supported the madridistas from the line of 6.75 and Yabusele’s drive meant that they reached the break with a small income (35-39).
He came back more plugged in Valencia, which with a 5-0 run in one minute reappeared on the scoreboard. Yabusele appeared again and stifled the attempt to alter the balance and returned control and calm to the Madrid team. The lack of aim from the locals in the outside shot made it easier for Real Madrid to maintain control (53-60, m.30).
With some good minutes by Fabien CauseurMateo’s men knew how to punish their rival’s defensive changes and with the reappearance of a rested Hejonza they did not have too many problems to make the clock tick without endangering their victory (63-73, m.35).
Denied in the shot of three (he only scored six of his twenty-eight shots), Valencia ran out of arguments to fight for victory and was content to not stop looking for it, which did not prevent him from some final whistles.
With two days to go in the first phase, Real Madrid’s victory keeps them a victory for Barça and Cazoo Baskonia and therefore still with some option to win one of those first two positions.
Instead, the defeat leaves Valencia with only one win more than UCAM Murciawho is ninth and has won the particular ‘basket average’ and therefore no margin of error to participate in the playoffs.
Data sheet:
68 – Valencia Basket (15+20+18+15): Evans (2), Jones (13), Webb III (18), Claver (-), Alexander (2) -starting five- Dubljevic (7), Puerto (5), Pradilla (9), Hermannsson (1), Rivero (3) and Radebaugh (8) and Mari (-).
79 – Real Madrid (20+19+21+19): William-Goss (2), Abalde (7), Causeur (11), Yabusele (25), Ndiaye (2) -starting five- Hanga (-), Hezonja (20), Sergio Rodríguez (-), Cornelie (-) , Tavares (10) and Llull (2).
Referees: Conde, Padrós and Sánchez. No deleted.
Incidents: Match corresponding to day 32 of the Endesa League played in the Fonteta pavilion before 7,585 spectators.