Cazoo Baskonia, Joventut, Valencia Basket and Gran Canaria won in the ‘playoffs’ area
MADRID, 5 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid beat Monbus Obradoiro (78-84) this Sunday on matchday 21 of the Endesa League, extending its leadership after the defeat of Barça, while Cazoo Baskonia, Joventut, Valencia Basket and Gran Canaria also won in the zone of ‘playoffs’.
Chus Mateo’s team had to sweat in Fontes do Sar but with their seventh consecutive victory, they took advantage of Barça’s defeat the day before in Zaragoza to be the sole leader with 18-3, one more win than the Catalans. Musa was the best with 19 points and a PIR of 21, also decisive with a great third quarter although plugged in from the beginning.
Causeur and Poirier helped make it 14-24 in the first quarter. The white team increased its income to 19 points, but Moncho Fernández’s men took a step forward. Musa’s 12 points in the third quarter partly cooled Fontes do Sar, but Obradoiro fought it until a close finish that the leader had to defend.
On the other hand, Baskonia had no mercy (105-81) against Coviran Granada to equalize Barça in second place. With a 34-20 lead in the second quarter, the Basques took over a game with great performances from Kotsar (19 points), Enoch and Costello on the inside.
In addition, Kyle Guy (22 points) and Andres Feliz (12, 7 rebounds and 5 assists) unleashed the best Joventut, who beat UCAM Murcia (94-68). The ‘Penya’ broke the game after the break to consolidate their position in the ‘Top 8’ with 14 wins, in a day that was also added by ‘Granca’ and Valencia.
The Canarian team (13-8) recovered from the last defeat precisely against the ‘taronja’ team with a choral performance against Surne Bilbao Basket (94-71). Six players from the Canary Islands surpassed ten in PIR, with Balcerowski (12 points, 7 rebounds and a PIR of 21) and Benite (19 points) as leaders.
Meanwhile, Valencia Basket offered a facelift in the return of the Endesa League after the break for the Copa del Rey and the last FIBA ’window’ for the World Cup. Álex Mumbrú’s men, who were coming off three straight losses including two in the Euroleague, surprised (77-72) a Lenovo Tenerife that lost pace in the ‘Top 4’ with a decisive James Webb (14 points and 18 PIR).