By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Mario Hezonja scored a season-high 26 points while Facu Campazzo dished out 13 assists to go with his seven points as Real Madrid defeated ALBA Berlin 99 – 75 to remain the only undefeated team in the 2023-24 EuroLeague regular season after 10 rounds.
In contrast, bottom-placed ALBA moved to 1-9.
“There are no bottom teams in EuroLeague. All teams in the EuroLeague are serious. They play extremely well,” Hezonja said. His team finished with 33 assists and shot 16-29 from downtown. “Today, it was a bit like a pickup basketball. We had to go out, focus on our basics, and do the little details that matter a lot.”
Edy Tavares (11 points, six rebounds) and Dzanan Musa (11 points) also scored in double figures for Real Madrid. Sergio Rodriguez added his own touch of 10 assists and eight points as the Blancos entered the game “hot” to go up 27 – 17 after the first quarter and never looked back.
ALBA never managed to drop the margin below double figures and their opponents began to really widen the gap after the middle of the third period to turn the game into a rout.
Respecting the opponent
“We respect ALBA a lot and we said that we have to speed up the game a little more, during halftime,” Real coach Chus Mateo said. “We know that they are going to come back in the game because they are a good team that fights regardless of their absences. They are always dangerous and we have to prevent that situation.”
Gabriele Procida had 14 points and Johannes Thiemman posted 12 points plus four steals for ALBA. The German side was without guards Sterling Brown and Matt Thomas.
“Congratulations to Real Madrid, they have been playing very well the whole season,” ALBA coach Israel Gonzalez said. “We have young players to develop and keep trying to improve and keep pushing.”