By Stefan Djordjevic/ info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid put on a furious start and although Gran Canaria threatened with a comeback, the ‘Whites’ held them off for a 91-73 win in the Spanish League Final Tournament.
Sergio Llull and Jaycee Carroll led the winning effort with 19 points each while Anthony Randolph and Nicolas Laprovittola added 11 each. The four players sunk a total of 12 triples split evenly between them (three each).
For Gran Canaria, Matt Costello scored 26 points in addition to John Shurna’s 11.
Llull, Randolph, and Laprovittola showed they were ready and eager to return to the court as they combined for 30 out of Real Madrid‘s 37 points in the first quarter.
? ¡Peeeero @nicolapro7!
El vigente MVP @movistar_es enchufa 2️⃣ triples en 5️⃣ segundos#LigaEndesa#VolverEsGanar
? vía @MovistarBasketpic.twitter.com/F8xxaiPeYI— Liga Endesa (@ACBCOM) June 18, 2020
However, Matt Costello had something to say as well. He banked 23 points in the first half to keep his squad alive and cut the deficit from 23 (43-20) to ten points (58-48) at the break.
Gran Canaria carried the momentum over to the second half and was down by just five points (69-64) at the start of the fourth quarter but couldn’t get past that margin. Real Madrid answered with a 9-0 run which crushed the hopes of the opponent, in the end, in a rather convincing manner score-wise.
Earlier, Valencia Basket prevailed 90-74 over MoraBanc Andorra. Mike Tobey logged a double-double for the victors with 15 points and 13 boards while Alberto Abalde scored 17and Joan Sastre 11 points
For Andorra, David Jelinek scored 11 while Dejan Todorovic, Jeremy Senglin and Bandja Sy added ten points each. The latter also treated the crowd with a passionate poster dunk.
? ¡Pósteeeer!
Por @BandjaSy #LigaEndesa
? En directo por @MovistarPlus pic.twitter.com/yFiEBO5MDq— Liga Endesa (@ACBCOM) June 18, 2020
The gameday was closed by Casademont Zaragoza and San Pablo Burgos with the latter grabbing a narrow 92-86 win in the final minute.
Thad Mcfadden scored 14 points for the winners including the last three points of the game, from the free-throw line. Augusto Lima added 13 and Dragan Apic 12 points.
Dylan Ennis and Robin Benzing scored 15 points each while Nemanja Radovic added 12 points.