The real Madrid keeps the pulse for second place of the Endesa League by beating the Joventut from Badalona by 99-89, a triumph that allows him distance Valencia Basket by one victory and ‘Penya’ by two, with an inspired Adam Hanga, author of 20 points and 5 triples from 9 attempts (55% success).
Not even the 25 points Ante Tomiconce again outstanding despite the whistles from the fans of his team that was so long ago, nor the constant reactions of Joventut who prevailed on the rebound (26-28) were enough to bring down a white team that added the twenty-second victory , two behind the leader, Barça.
That the madridista euphoria of going to the Final Four of the Euroleague had been left behind was noticeable from the start. The whites, serious in defense, denying any green-and-black approach to their rim, and fine shots (3 three-pointers from 4 attempts) made it 20-11 halfway through the first quarter against an outclassed Joventut.
Carles Durán stopped him to put in Pau Ribas and the new best youngster in the Endesa League, Joel Parra, who They responded with two instant triples, although his push was soon over and the end of the quarter was white (29-23).
The black-green resistance had a first and last name: Paul Ribas. unattainable to discouragement, He had already added 11 points in his effort to keep his team hooked (31-25, min. 12). But it was in vain, because Madrid continued to defend strongly and make every possession profitable. Sergio Llull assisted, Vincent Poirier hung with two hands from the basket and the lead shot up to 13 points (40-27, min. 14).
But the ‘Penya’ is not fighting for second place in the league by chance. At the minimum that the white effectiveness dropped, it was stretched by the steals of Andrés Feliz and the quality of Ante Tomic to equalize the duel one minute before the break (42-42, partial 0-10). With two dunks by Guerschon Yabusele and Parra, one per hoop, the break came (47-46).
On the way back from the locker room, Joventut seemed willing to take the initiative, until bumped into a blessed Adam Hangawho endorsed them with three triples without fail in four minutes (62-53, min. 24), ultimately fundamental to the final result.
Although Parra, a force of nature, reappeared, he found a hurricane, Walter Tavares, who just hung on Hanga’s pass that drilled the basket in Simon Birgander’s nose. Nevertheless, Tomic, as whistled as usual, was determined that the ‘Penya’ was still alive for the last quarter (76-69).
As alive as with the last 6 minutes to go, the black-and-green squad leveled the duel with a robbery by Ribas completed by Feliz (83-83). Laso recovered the sniper Hanga and hit the first one. In the second he faked from the corner and gave in for Yabusele to finish. An ‘alley-oop’ by Poirier and a bomb by Llull completed the 10-0 run to put an end to Badalona’s resistance (93-83, min. 36).
Already Pablo Laso’s men did not miss the meeting, who knew how to resist the umpteenth attempt at a reaction from the visitors while maintaining their defense. A stealing layup by Nigel Williams-Goss and a dunk by Poirier capped off a happy afternoon for the WiZink Center crowd.
Data sheet:
99 – Real Madrid (29 + 18 + 29 + 23): Williams-Goss (4), Causeur (11), Hanga (20), Yabusele (17), Tavares (7) -starting quintet-, Poirier (16), Llull (10), Deck (3), Abalde (5) and Randolph (6).
89 – Joventut from Badalona (23+23+23+20): Vives (4), Feliz (11), Busquets, Tomic (25), Willis (12) -initial quintet-, Parra (9), Ribas (15), Paul (2), Birgander (6), Bassas (5) and Maronka.
Referees: Daniel Herrezuelo, Juan de Dios Oyón and Fabio Fernández. Without eliminated.
Incidents: match of the thirty-first day of the Endesa League played at the WiZink Center (Palace of Sports of the Community of Madrid) before 6,305 spectators. Before the start of the match, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Colombian Fredddy Rincón, and Fernando Túnis, both former Real Madrid soccer players.