Real Madrid qualified for the Endesa League final after beating Baskonia at the Buesa Arena (77-85) without the presence of its first coach, Pablo Laso, who followed him from his home after hours before they gave him discharge after his myocardial infarction.
The set of Chus Mateo He always had the match in control with a Walter Tavares which was once again decisive, with 23 points and 13 rebounds, and a PIR of 36which allowed Madrid to close the semifinal against Baskonia on the fast track. Baldwin was the best Baskonia player with 26 points.
Baskonia entered the game decisively, aware that he had to keep up the tempo if he wanted to have any chance against the Whites. A tiple from Peters encouraged the locals, although very soon a reality bath came to them.
Tavares became the owner of the area very soon Hanga returned to direct with success and also in the triple, which allowed Madrid to achieve its first advantages (7-12).
The control for Madrid
The Vitorians lost control of the duel, before a Madrid that kept hammering the hoop from a distance despite Baldwin’s attempts to close the gap (14-18). But the Whites finished the fourth explosively with a three-pointer by Rudy and another move by Tavares to dominate by 11 (14-25).
Baskonia was in tow and lost 12 (19-31) in the worst local minutes, at the pace of a Madrid that comfortably dominated. Spahija called a time out and The reaction of the locals arrived with a 7-0 that put them in the match.
The actions of Fontecchio (10 points) and Baldwin (15), woke up the Vitorians who they reduced the rent to only five at the break (36-41) and still hoping to add the first victory of the semifinal.
baskonia tries
Baskonia returned to the game with a triple by Costello (17-25) but the rhythm of the game and the success was for the whites, who little by little, were taking over the game and the marker grew for the visitors (42-56).
Spahija stopped the game again, trying to put his men back together, but the game was clearly in the hands of Madrid, which reached a maximum of 15 (51-66) with an unstoppable Tavares. Baldwin, Baskonia’s most successful player, left the lead at 13 at the end of the quarter (53-66).
The last effort from Vitoria brought them closer to just five points (64-69) but it was a brief mirage, because triples by Deck and Hanga (66-81) opened the difference again and Madrid no longer suffered to certify the pass to the final (77-85).
Datasheet:
77 – Battles of the Basque Country (14 + 22 + 18 + 24): Baldwin (26), Fontecchio (16), Giedraitis (6), Peters (9) y Enoch (2) -cinco inicial-, Marinkovic (-), Wetzell (3), Granger (10) y Costello (5).
85 – Real Madrid (25+16+25+19): Hanga (18), Causeur (14), Deck (17), Yabusele (2) and Tavares (23) – the starting five – Nunez (-), Poirier (8), Taylor (-) Randolph (-) and Rudy (1). 3).
Referees: Daniel Hierrezuelo, Jordi Aliaga and Juan De Dios Oyón. Baldwin was eliminated for personal fouls (min. 38). They pointed out technique to Hanga (min.33) and Baldwin (min.38).
Incidences: Third semifinal match, the best of five, of the Endesa League played at the Fernando Buesa Arena in Vitoria before 9,748 spectators. Before kick-off, tribute was paid to the Real Madrid coach who had suffered a heart attack two days earlier and underwent surgery. Both squads posed with a banner in support of the coach from Vitoria.
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