By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The derby between Spanish EuroLeague teams Cazoo Baskonia and Valencia Basket fulfilled expectations, as the team from Vitora defeated the host at La Fonteta 85-81 in the dying moments.
The rivals went back and forth until the final two minutes when Matt Costello and Vanja Marinkovic paved the way to the victory for Baskonia with consecutive three-point shots. Valencia fought until the end but couldn’t turn the score around.
After a 35-point eruption against Fenerbahce in the EuroLeague, Marinkovic led Joan Penarroya’s team again with 24 points, including a crucial triple and a couple of free throws in the last minute.
Costello followed him with 16 points and seven rebounds, while Marcus Howard added 14 points for the winning side.
Jasiler Rivero scored 25 points with six rebounds for Alex Mumbur’s squad, while Chris Jones was an assist shy of a double-double with 16 points.
Shannon Evans added 11, and James Webb 10 points with eight boards for Valencia.
Baskonia is again tied with Real Madrid and Barcelona at the top of the standings, as Real crushed Granada and Barcelona defeated Tenerife in Round 25. All three teams have a 21-4 score.
Struggling Valencia fell to 13-12, and it will need to fight for the playoff spot, as it currently sits eighth on the ACB standings.
ACB Round 25
Rio Breogan – Joventut Badalona 65-85
Unicaja – Carplus Fuenlabrada 100-75
Gran Canaria – Real Betis 87-71
Surne Bilbao – Casademont Zaragoza 81-68
Real Madrid – Coviran Granada 108-75
UCAM Murcia – Girona 102-79
Lenovo Tenerife – FC Barcelona 76-79
BAXI Manresa – Monbus Obradoiro 80-65
Valencia – Cazoo Baskonia 81-85
STANDINGS: 1. Real Madrid 21-4, 2. Barcelona 21-4, 3. Baskonia 21-4, 4. Tenerife 18-7, 5. Unicaja 16-9….