Real Madrid has become Baskonia’s specialty this season. The Vitoria team a few weeks ago and this Friday prevented Sergio Scariolo’s team from reaching the top two teams in the Euroleague, Olympiacos and Fenerbahce. This defeat at the Buesa Arena (98-96) allowed Valencia Basket to equal 22 victories after achieving a victory in Bologna (81-94) with a festival by Nate Reuvers, who completed one of the best games of his career with 33 points, 10 rebounds and a PIR of 44. The two clubs maintain their options, with three days remaining, of finishing the regular league in playoff positions.
Baskonia, released from the pressure, seemed to be on skates in this match. Paolo Galbiati’s men came out strong, with the injection of three-pointers, which led them to take an eleven-point lead (38-27) after a few minutes of great inspiration at the start of the second quarter, where they extended a 13-0 run against a Real Madrid, unable to contain their rival, led one more night by Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (TLC) and Mamadi Diakité.
Sergio Scariolo once again trusted the comeback to the usual one, Facu Campazzo. Madrid improved its defense and the Argentine point guard accelerated the attacks to stop the bleeding. Tavares, the mill that clears the paint with its enormous blades, supported the work on its rim and in attack Campazzo found allies in Hezonja and Sergio Llull. Together they patched the hole until they regained control (48-53).
Diakité, infallible in his outside shot (he made five three-pointers without a miss), kept the Vitoria team hooked on the game despite the display of Mario Hezonja, capable of scoring, assisting and rebounding. The exchange of baskets did not help Madrid, who pressed on defense, with some good minutes from Garuba. The Spanish interior gave Tavares rest and, at the same time, allowed his team to gain momentum again (73-82) against their executioner in the Copa del Rey.
But Baskonia recovered the success of the first quarter in time and, based on triples, with Kobi Simmons joining the cause, forced Madrid to suffer until the last minute with 14 total hits from the 6.75m curve. The Baskonista players, with a great TLC (26 points, six rebounds and three assists), were sharper in an exciting final minute in which this time Sergio Llull could not sentence.
Valencia took advantage of this new setback for Madrid at home – the white team has only won five of its 17 outings – with a colossal Nate Reuvers in command of the ‘Taronja’ attack. After many alternations on the scoreboard in the first half, Pedro Martínez’s team managed to take the lead just before the break thanks to a desperate triple from Matt Costello (43-44). The ‘taronja’ team, in its best season in history in the Euroleague, took off again in a third quarter, something common this season, and that allowed it to take a good lead despite Carsen Edwards’ 26 points.
