Baxi Manresa added its second away feat of the season and, after winning at the Palau Blaugrana, repeated its victory (72-83) against leader Real Madrid in the ACB League. The white team suffered its second setback at home, while Pedro Martínez’s team claims its place in the playoffs for the title.
This is Manresa’s third victory in Madrid in a decade. Two years ago they won 88-94, and nine years ago 80-90, always with Pedro Martínez on the Bages bench.
The terrible balance in the free throws of Chus Mateo’s team (2 of 25 for 12%) and a general gray tone, with the only exception of the productive Sergio Rodríguez-Vincent Poirier connection, contrasted with the excellence shown by the Senegalese point guard Badio, author of 20 points, was decisive in the final stretch when the locals came within just one point.
Real Madrid, which now has only one more victory than Unicaja, did not seem, at least initially, to show the European hangover after the comeback against Red Star in the Euroleague, which allowed them, with a fluid game and good percentages , take advantage of the cold Manresa start to make it 11-2, which forced Pedro Martínez to call his team to a chapter.
And well, they responded to the Barcelona coach with their defensive intensity, which was also helped by the Whites’ poor percentages in triple shots – 2 out of 10 at halftime – to turn the score around at the end of the first quarter, 15-17.
The good visitor inertia, from the intensity, fostered by the successful rotations of Martínez to refresh his interior game, together with the game direction of the two Dani, Pérez and García – this one especially successful -, allowed the visitor to escape 23-31 ( minute 15).
Chus Mateo’s timeout reactivated his team who were not comfortable to reduce the gap to just two points, which would widen Robinson’s scoring awakening before the break, 34-41, despite the lack of success in free throws subtracted points from his team.
The bad start of both teams after the break suited Baxi Manresa better, as they escaped again 38-49, minute 26, forcing Mateo to stop the game again, with his players more involved, but equally making mistakes in shots.
The atmosphere was heating up, also in the stands and that encouraged the locals who, despite always being in tow, seemed to attempt a new comeback in less than 48 hours, but this time without success and only with the will shown by Poirier or Deck.
That allowed them to be just one point away, 63-64, but at that moment Manresa held his nerve and his nerves, looking for his most decisive player, Badio who, together with Robinson, secured the victory, gloating at the end with two triples to the final 72-83 against the desperation of an erratic Real Madrid, capitalized on the final technique of Facundo Campazzo’s impotence.
Real Madrid: Campazzo (6), Abalde (-), Musa (8), Yabusele (12), Tavares (3); Sergio Rodriguez (6), Poirier (19), Causeur (-), Deck (12), Rudy Fernandez (-), Llull (6).
Subs: Dani Perez (2), Williams (2), Vaulet (9), Robinson (16), Geben (10); Oriola (6), Badio (20), Sagna (4), Dani Garcia (9), Stienbergs (5), Sunday (-), Thursday (-).
Referees: Rafael Sergio, Sergio Manuel, David Sánchez. They eliminated Mawugbe (min. 31). They signaled a technical foul to Llull (min. 29) and Campazzo (min.40).
Court: Wizink Center in Madrid before 7,678 spectators.
