ACB – rooms – working day 2
Without the brilliance of other times, but with the same craft and the same result. Real Madrid rolled up their sleeves to defeat Gran Canaria, add the second victory in the ACB quarterfinals and reach the semifinals on the fast track before concentrating on the Euroleague Final Four, next week in Berlin with the challenge of renewing the European champion card.
After the beating of the first match, the trip to the island provided a much more even and passionate clash. Shurna lit up his team with a dance of movements that already anticipated another type of encounter. Granca was chasing the quick basket, fleeing from a static confrontation in which Tavares usually wins (9-8). Madrid was looking for its giant in attack, plugged into the connection with helmsman Campazzo.
Comfortable to run and to find free shots, and refreshed with the changes (Chus Mateo used 11 pieces in the initial 10 minutes), Madrid reached the first break with a whistle: 18-25. The Granca was Shurna.
A dunk from Poirier and three seconds later Llull makes a basket. Madrid accelerated and the yellow team responded with triples from Bassas and Salvó. Also with another twist in the defense to avoid gifts: 31-33. The use of the outside shot was abused and several local attacks were spit out of the rim (33-43 at halftime).
GRAN CANARIA, 71; REAL MADRID, 73
Gran Canaria:Albicy (8), Kljajic (3), Brussino (14), Shurna (19), Lammers (0) –starting team–; Bassas (5), Slaughter (3), Pelos (0), Happ (12) and Salvó (7).
Real Madrid: Campazzo (10), Abalde (6), Musa (12), Yabusele (4), Tavares (13) –initial team–; Sergio Rodríguez (2), Llull (11), Hezonja (8), Poirier (4), Rudy (3) and Ndiaye (0).
Partials: 18-25, 15-18, 25-17 and 13-13.
Referees:Peruga, Torres and Martínez. No eliminations.
Gran Canaria rescued its faith to continue betting on roulette despite distant failures, especially from Albicy, and thus pushed to reduce the gap: 45-49. It was their last chance to stand up and Madrid had to draw on its resources, which are many. Two triples from Musa and Abalde returned the set and Lakovic’s men responded in kind, a couple of great defenses and quick attacks to make it 58-60 before the end.
In Madrid it was the time of the old guard. The white team wanted to control the match. Gran Canaria, which went out of control, without fear of hand-to-hand combat and to challenge the European champion to races. Hezonja and Tavares made another spurt (64-72), until Granca gave their all in the attempt. He would still have a shot to win, but Slaughter missed. The yellow team said goodbye with honor. The whites are already looking to Berlin.
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