By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Real Madrid’s Walter Tavares has tested positive for COVID-19, the team announced Friday evening.
Tavares, 29, followed Rudy Fernandez in the COVID-19 list. His teammate turned in a positive test as well, the Whites announced Thursday.
The Cape Verdean center, two-time EuroLeague best defender, averaged 12.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.9 blocks, 1.1 steals, and 0.8 assists per Turkish Airlines EuroLeague game so far. His 2021-22 campaign also includes 9.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.8 blocks, 1.4 assists, and 0.6 steals per ACB contest.
Head coach Pablo Laso, and multiple players, Carlos Alocen, Fabien Causeur, Adam Hanga, Thomas Heurtel, Sergio Llull, Juan Nunez, Vincent Poirier, Anthony Randolph, Jeffery Taylor, and Guerschon Yabusele formed the first spike of COVID-19 cases for the team based in Madrid. Upon players recovering and getting cleared for action, the Spanish giant got back on the court competing in a couple of ACB games Tuesday and Sunday. The team was idle since an extremely shorthanded squad defeated CSKA Moscow in EuroLeague Regular Season Round 17 on December 23.
The EuroLeague campaign resumes for Laso’s side with a Regular Season Round 21 home fixture opposite Bitci Baskonia tonight (20:45 CET). Round 18 game at Fenerbahce Beko, Round 19’s against UNICS Kazan, and Round 20 matchup versus Crvena Zvezda mts in Belgrade are suspended. The Istanbul visit has been rescheduled for February 8.
Madrid sits second in the EuroLeague standings carrying a 14-3 record. FC Barcelona leads at 16-4. The domestic table features Real first at 15-1 and Barca second at 11-3.