Merengue victory (73-83) in Badalona, making it 2-1 in their Endesa League semifinal
MADRID, 10 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid defeated Joventut de Badalona by a comfortable 73-83 this Saturday, with 25 points from Bosnian forward Dzanan Musa, and thus neutralized the push of the Pavelló Olímpic, witness to a recital by the Merengue team to establish the 2-1 in this Endesa League semifinal playoff.
The green-and-black court, decked out for the third game of this series, had reason to believe in the bell against the current ACB champion and brand new Euroleague winner. Thus, the excellent offensive contribution of Kyle Guy in the first match had set off alarm bells among the madridistas, who took revenge 48 hours later.
With 1-1 in the global calculation, the Olímpic had to measure if there would be another surprise or if the power of the giant would prevail. And Musa ensured that Real Madrid had a red carpet from the start. The visitors never let go of the lead on the scoreboard, thanks to a 2-16 run that paved the way for the first period.
The French center Guerschon Yabusele dominated under the boards, without the need for the Cape Verdean Edy Tavares to contribute points. Everything came out for Chus Mateo’s pupils in a second quarter in which they kept Joventut at bay, entrusted to a Kyle Guy who was too alone in attack.
The 32-48 that reflected the email of the pavilion at halftime already made it clear that it was not the day for the locals. In fact, the accumulated partial of the third period (11-22) marked the sentence for the Badalona team, in whose ranks only the Swedish center Simon Birgander could keep up with Kyle Guy in offensive tasks.
The more choral performance of Real Madrid, with fluidity in the passes, caused the difference in the score to even go as far as 30 points (37-67). There were still 4:26 left to close that third period, but the players coached by Carles Duran couldn’t find a way to hurt an opponent in a state of grace.
PARTIAL OF 23-3 THAT MAKES THE JOVENTUT DREAM
The fourth chapter started with a 43-70 score that, despite everything, did not prevent Joventut from making arrests. Guillem Vives opened the hostilities with a triple, Joel Parra continued that play with another basket for hope and Simon Birgander accumulated more shots with aim. Suddenly, the blind had been lowered to the merengue group.
The squad of old rockers led by Sergio Rodríguez, Sergio Llull and Rudy Fernández gradually exhausted their catalog of resources and the hoop became too small for Real Madrid. Mario Hezonja no longer appeared to help Musa and, furthermore, Tavares only stood out in the rebounding aspect.
Chus Mateo missed the points of the Cape Verdean in the heights, but the stands of the Olímpic well enjoyed it. His team went 23-3 in the last quarter, going from 50-75 to 73-78. The visiting team gritted its teeth, Mateo turned to Tavares again in the final stages and Joventut died on the shore.
Two free throws made by Musa, together with a dunk from Yabusele on the counterattack, sealed the visitor’s victory (73-83). Nor did a couple of long shots from Guy enter, desperately. The Indianapolis guard was reminiscent of the one from the first game of this semifinal, but the outcome was as bitter as in the second game.
After this third confrontation, the Madrid club was one more victory away from their ticket to the final for the title. He will try to achieve it next Monday from 9:00 p.m.) and in the same scenario, during a fourth match in which there will no longer be a margin of error for the Badalona team.
DATASHEET.
–RESULT: JOVENTUT, 73 – REAL MADRID, 83. (32-48, at halftime).-
–EQUIPMENT:
YOUTH: Vives (-), Guy (17), Brodziansky (11), Parra (2) and Tomic (1) –starting five–; Ellenson (2), Birgander (6), Feliz (4), Busquets (-) and Ventura (-).
REAL MADRID: Williams-Goss (6), Hanga (5), Musa (25), Yabusele (16) and Tavares (-) — starting quintet–; Poirier (8), Hezonja (13), Causeur (-), Llull (5), Rudy Fernandez (1), Sergio Rodriguez (4) and Randolph (-).
— PARTIALS: 16-25, 16-23, 11-22 and 30-13.
–REFEREES: Peruga, Perea and Fernández. Feliz was eliminated due to personal fouls at Joventut.
— PAVILION: Olímpic de Badalona, 12,323 spectators.