By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The final score was 98-84 and doesn’t really tell the story of the game. Still, Real Madrid beating ALBA Berlin at home is totally expected and a tied first half is not enough to create an upset.
Xavier Rathan-Mayes scored 16 points for the home side, Serge Ibaka added 15 and Dzanan Musa had 13 coming from injury.
Add a double-double by Facundo Campazzo (12 p. 10 as.) and you have one more Madrid day in the office.
“The coach talked with us in halftime and we had to play better defense, when we do this, in offense we are really good”, explained Facu after the game.
“We need to have a game with this energy from start to finish”, added coach Chus Mateo.
Gabriele Procida with 18 points, but only four in the second half, practically symbolizes the effort of the depleted due to injuries ALBA Berlin.
ALBA with a 2-9 record is tied with Virtus Bologna on the last spot of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague standings, while Real Madrid with a 5-6 still tried to find their real self.
Two different halves
In the first half, with both teams making their shots, Madrid had the lead, but couldn’t create any distance. To be exact, Madrid in the first period got a six-point lead (22-16), before ALBA trimmed it to one (23-21) at the end of the quarter.
The Germans led even by 37-29 in the second period with Madrid reacting and the halftime score being tied at 53.
Of course, things change in the second half. ALBA trailed by two (61-59) after the first couple of buckets and then Madrid simply changed gear with a 13-0 run (74-59).
The score at the end of the third was 77-68, on paper the Germans had a chance, but on the floor, it was a different story. After two threes by Musa, the score was 89-71 and the game was over.
Photo credit: EuroLeague