Real Madrid did not suffer the blow of losing the Euroleague final and made their debut in the Endesa League playoffs with a more than convincing victory against Baxi Manresa at the WiZink Center. Pedro Martínez's team was completely outmatched, trying to get their pride out of him in the last quarter to make up the score without much success. The series will now move to the Nou Congost where on Sunday the people of Manresa will try to force the third game with the help of their always hot crowd.
Madrid's triumph came thanks to an insulting dominance on the rebound (52 to 26) and another great performance by Fabian Causeur (17 points, 8 rebounds), who at 34 is finishing the season like a shot. In the Catalan ranks, Francisco and Thomasson, with 12 points, led their team in scoring.
The white team started the game dominating the scoreboard and Manresa was always in tow. Although it was not until the second quarter when he began to break the scoreboard with enough success in the triple, one of his great burdens in the final in Belgrade.
Madrid's recital continued in the third act, when it reached its maximum difference (71-45, minute 29). The differences in the rebound were abysmal and no matter how much Pedro Martínez's men shot the basket over and over again, there was no way to cut back.
Already in the last quarter, Baxi Manresa put up a fight and took that mini score (22-27) but it was too late to react. Madrid had been better and already dominated the series.
93 - Real Madrid (21 27 23 22): Causeur (17), Hanga (7), Tavares (2), Yabusele (15) and Taylor (3) - starting five - Nunez (6), Rudy Fernandez (4) , Abalde (6), Deck (9), Poirier (12) and Llull (12).
76 - Baxi Manresa (14, 15, 27): Moneke (7), Bako (5), Vaulet (8), Thomasson (12) and Perez (5) - starting five - Badio, Francisco (12), Steinbergs (5). ), Martinez (6), Valtonen, Maye (10) and Sima (6).
Referees: Carlos Peruga, Carlos Cortés and Iyán González. Without eliminated.
Incidents: First playoff match played at the Palacio de Deportes (WiZink Center) in Madrid before 5,553 spectators. Felipe Reyes, a former Real Madrid player, presented Walter Tavares with the trophy for the best defender in La Liga last season.
