Tavares appeases Stark Arena and forces the fourth game
Real Madrid came back from behind Partizán (80-82) with a vital three-pointer from Williams-Goss at the end
MADRID, 2 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid won this Tuesday 80-82 on their visit to Partizan, placating the spirits of the Stark Arena in Belgrade (Serbia) and thus forcing the fourth game of this Euroleague quarterfinal tie, with an outstanding performance by the center Real Madrid player Walter ‘Edy’ Tavares for his 26 points to go along with a vital three-pointer from Nigel Williams-Goss at the end.
The merengue team saw their faces again with Partizán after the monumental brawl that both teams staged on April 27, at the WiZink Center, during the last moments of the second game of the series. With the 0-2 in favor of their rival, and without those penalized for that tangana, the stake was life or death for Madrid.
However, this condition was not noticed at the beginning of the meeting. Entrusted above all to the scoring inspiration of Alen Smailagic, Partizan opened up quite a gap on the scoreboard. An opening run of 12-0 showed the ‘fuck’ of the visitors, who closed the first quarter down by a 32-19 that encouraged them to row or give up.
And when it comes to rowing or swimming against the current, the elongated arms of Edy Tavares are a blessing. The Cape Verdean pivot, recovered against time from his physical discomfort to face this unavoidable appointment on the white calendar, seized the reins of his team in almost every attacking action. Balls to him, who would already manage.
Up front, the offensive work was more choral and with a more stable rhythm, thanks to the work of Zach Leday, Smailagic himself, James Nunnally and Yam Madar. Despite this, Madrid had Williams-Goss in the bedroom to lend a hand to Tavares whenever he needed it. In the same way, Mario Hezonja was also beginning to tone up for battle.
That mixture worked for Chus Mateo, who saw how his pupils signed a brilliant second quarter to get just one point away (46-45) just before the break. In this context, the stands of the Stark Arena already imagined that the game was going to be something practically new when they returned from the changing rooms.
With Tavares still as a great spearhead for the visitors, and with Leday putting the reply on the local side, minute 30 ran out with a 63-66 score that invited another ‘warm’ outcome. However, the fight remained purely sporting and both teams offered a show, this time, worthy of the Euroleague quarterfinals.
With only 2:18 left to go, Tavares grabbed two essential rebounds and equalized the electronic one with a basket (77-77) that served as a prelude to the final tachycardia. Leday failed in Partizán’s next attack, mounted the attack against Madrid and Williams-Goss executed a saving triple (77-80). Although then Nunnally also tried three, he missed his shot and also the rebound was taken by Hezonja.
The Croatian forward was fouled and hit two free throws that made it 77-82, which Belgrade did not come back from. A triple rolled up by Leday made it 80-82 that made up everything, but without enough timer to avoid defeat. Even so, Zeljko Obradovic’s men will have another option on Thursday to close the series.
DATASHEET:
–RESULT: PARTIZÁN, 80 – REAL MADRID, 82 (48-45, at halftime).
–EQUIPMENT:
PARTIZÁN: Nunnally (13), Andjusic (6), Madar (12), Smailagic (15) y Leday (15) –quinteto inicial–; Trifunovic (2), Exum (11), Papapetrou (4), Avramovic (-), Koprivica (-) y Vukcevic (2).
REAL MADRID: Williams-Goss (22), Lull (-), Musa (9), Cornelie (-) and Tavares (26) — starting quintet–; Hezonja (12), Randolph (1), Hanga (3), Rudy Fernandez (6) and Sergio Rodriguez (3).
— PARTIALS: 32-19, 16-26, 15-21 and 17-16.
–REFEREES: Ryzhyk, Difallah and Mogulkoc. Madar was eliminated at Partizan for personal fouls.
–PAVILLION: Stark Arena, 20,091 spectators.