By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
On his 200th appearance in Spain’s Liga Endesa, Sergi Garcia set a new career-high at the senior level. And Rio Breogan delivered a stunner in Round 25 of the Regular Season.
After losing in all 23 previous visits at the Catalonia giant and reigning ACB champions, the team based in Lugo got a win, 88-85, in Palau Blaugrana on Sunday.
Sinking the go-ahead bucket and a bonus free throw, Ben McLemore created a distance of three points with 51.7 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Following solid defensive efforts lifted the visitors to 7-18, just above the relegation zone.
Garcia ended up with 23 points behind 8/10 field goals and McLemore put in 18 points. Both standouts scored seven points over the last ten minutes. Juan Fernandez chipped in 13 more points.
The first start for Ricky Rubio since recently returning to action translated into five points and two assists over 18 minutes in a losing effort. Willy Hernangomez produced a game-high 20 points.
Czech imports Jan Vesely and Tomas Satoransky did not suit up for the team coached by Roger Grimau. Nikola Kalinic and Nicolas Laprovittola stayed on the bench.
Real Madrid edges Unicaja; Valencia falls to Girona
The highly anticipated matchup between Unicaja Malaga and Real Madrid ended with the ACB League leaders clinching an 81-87 victory in the final moments.
Dzanan Musa tied the game at 81 with 69 seconds remaining, followed by Walter Tavares, who gave Real the lead with 28 seconds left. Facu Campazzo then stole the ball from Tyson Carter, passing it to Gabriel Deck for an open dunk, extending the lead to 81-85. Unicaja failed to convert in the closing seconds, allowing Campazzo to seal the victory with another two points.
Musa led the charge with 19 points, while Facu contributed 11 points and seven assists, and Tavares added 11 points with six rebounds. Vincent Poirier chipped in with 10 points.
For Unicaja, Dylan Osetkowski led with 20 points, followed by Carter with 11, and David Kravish and Yankuba Sima each added 10 points.
In the absence of injured Brandon Davies, Valencia suffered a 92-88 loss to Girona, with Ike Iroegbu scoring 25 points for the victors. Damian Inglis and Semi Ojeleye scored 14 points for Valencia, supported by Chris Jones and Xabi Lopez Arostegue, who contributed 13 points each.
ACB Round 25
UCAM Murcia – Monbus Obradoiro 94-81
Baskonia – Coviran Granada 104-88
MoraBanc Andorra – Lenovo Tenerife 66-79
BAXI Manresa – Dreamland Gran Canaria 78-71
Surne Bilbao – Joventut Badalona 92-71
FC Barcelona – Rio Breogan 85-88
Girona – Valencia 92-88
Casademont Zaragoza – Zunder Palencia 103-96
Unicaja – Real Madrid 81-87
STANDINGS: Real Madrid 22-3, Unicaja 20-5, UCAM Murcia 16-9, FC Barcelona 16-9, Dreamland Gran Canaria 16-9…
Photo Credit: ACB / M. Graupera