For a moment it seemed that he was facing the end of the season with bad feelings, in doubt the project of Chus Mateo. The team was even on the canvas, against the ropes in the European challenge. But when the moment of truth arrived, with the titles at stake, Real Madrid has resurfaced again.
He exhibited his competitiveness by lifting the Euroleague and has risen again in the Endesa League semifinals against Joventut after losing the first game of the series and suffering in the second. The spectacular atmosphere at the OlÃmpic, with more than 12,323 souls leaving their throats, awakened the best version of a white team that sealed the second victory of the tie and is now one step away from the final.
By contrast, those of Carles Duran were prey to overexcitation. The rival’s sticky defense, especially hard on key players like Guy and Tomic, always on the verge of free kicks, led to very forced shots, while on the other side easy baskets followed one another in the first minutes. Musa, Yabusele and Hanga led to a devastating first set (2-16) that Brodziansky stopped, with two three pointers, and Guy at the end of the first quarter (16-25).
The small local reaction did not prevent the visitors from continuing with the rhythm of the match, comfortable in the direction of Sergio RodrÃguez and Llull. Hezonja, Musa and Yabusele, by far the most booed by the green and black fans, scored without opposition. Only Guy, most of the time with very complicated plays, managed to respond to White’s power. Insufficient against a Madrid that went to rest with an 80% success rate in shots from two and an income of 16 points (32-48).
There were still 20 minutes of hope for a Penya that continued without solutions against the Madrid network, a wall in defense and a cannon in attack. What should have been the local reaction was the best moment of Musa, who shot the advantage (37-67). Poirier, better than an unprecedented Tavares, without shots, increased the gap at the end of the third quarter (43-70).
It seemed doomed, but La Penya, based on faith, almost worked the miracle. Secondary players like Birgander and Ellenson believed and Feliz, with just a minute to go, opened a thread of life with a three-pointer (73-78). Two free throws by Musa, with which he reached 25 points, the top scorer of the duel, knocked out Joventut and OlÃmpic who will try to avoid elimination on Monday.
Joventut de Badalona (16 16 11 30): Vives (3), Guy (20), Parra (4), Brodziansky (11), Tomic (1) -starting five-, Feliz (9), Ellenson (8), Ventura (-), Busquets (2), Birgander (12) and Kraag (3).
Real Madrid (25 22 23 13): Williams-Goss (6), Musa (25), Hanga (5), Yabusele (16), Tavares (-) -starting five- Causeur (-), Hezonja (13), Poirier (8), Sergio RodrÃguez (4), Rudy Fernández (1), Llull (5) and Randolph (-).
Referees: Carlos Peruga, Óscar Perea and Fabio Fernández. Eliminated: Happy (min. 40).
Incidents: 12,323 spectators attended the match in the third game of the semifinal series played at the Badalona Olympic Stadium. The Joventut players wore the inscription X. Villanueva on the back of their shirts, in memory of Xavi Villanueva, director of the entity, who recently died. For this reason, a minute’s silence was also observed.
