By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After a loss to Unicaja and settling for second in the Basketball Champions Final Four on Sunday, Lenovo Tenerife bounced back with a narrow win, 87-86, against the BCL champions in Round 31 of Spain’s Liga Endesa Regular Season on Wednesday.
Moving to the Canary Islands for the rematch of the BCL championship game, the hosts rushed into a double-digit lead with effective perimeter defense but could not hold on to a safe cushion. Tyler Kalinoski missing at the buzzer was ultimately required to prevail and improve to 20-11. Ibon Navarro’s side fell to 25-6 and second place behind Real Madrid in the ACB standings.
A game-high 22 points by Marcelo Huertas, including eight points in the fourth quarter. The 40-year-old Brazilian floor general added six assists and four rebounds. Giorgi Shermadini chipped in 14 points and seven rebounds. For Unicaja, Tyson Carter recorded a team-high 14 points and Kalinoski followed with 12 points.
From Belgrade to the United States, Kyle Guy was excused from Tenerife after becoming a father. Staying on the injury list, Jaime Fernandez (right knee surgery) and Aaron Doornekamp (left foot) were unavailable for head coach Txus Vidorreta. The Malaga outfit scratched experienced center Augusto Lima.
Coming out of the BCL Final Four, UCAM Murcia secured a home win, 82-75, against Casademont Zaragoza. Combining for 14 points in the fourth quarter, Dylan Ennis and Ludvig Hakanson shared a team-high 17 points. Picking up a right foot injury in the third-place game against Peristeri bwin on Sunday, Rodions Kurucs was sidelined by the Universitarios.
ACB Round 31
Coviran Granada – Rio Breogan 84-85
Zunder Palencia – Baskonia 94-101
Dreamland Gran Canaria – Joventut Badalona 97-79
Girona – Surne Bilbao 81-68
Real Madrid – Monbus Obradoiro 79-69
BAXI Manresa – Valencia 98-96
MoraBanc Andorra – FC Barcelona 108-92
UCAM Murcia – Casademont Zaragoza 82-75
Lenovo Tenerife – Unicaja 87-86
STANDINGS: Real Madrid 26-5, Unicaja 25-6, FC Barcelona 21-10, Lenovo Tenerife 20-11, UCAM Murcia 20-11, Dreamland Gran Canaria 20-11…
Photo Credit: Basketball Champions League