Real Madrid will defend its European title in the ‘Final Four’ to be played in Berlin, after getting rid of Baskonia quickly, 3-0, with a tight victory this Wednesday at the Buesa Arena by 98-102.
The Madridistas, who were not good in defense or in their three-point shooting, appeared in the last quarter to turn around a game that was in favor of the locals.
Two disconnections by Dusko Ivanovic’s team were punished by Chus Mateo’s team, who climbed on Facundo Campazzo’s back when victory was at stake. The point guard and interiors Edy Tavares and Guerschon Yabusele withstood the pace of Codi Miller-McIntyre, the scoring level of Markus Howard, author of 29 points, and the sparks of Nikos Rogkavopoulos and Vanja Marinkovic.
Baskonia entered the game better, with more intensity and successful shooting, but Real Madrid recovered despite not scoring the free kicks. The whites played above the rim in defense and attack and kept up with the Catalans until 22-22 in the first quarter.
Markus Howard went into a trance and continued in the second quarter as he finished the first, being the real scoring focus for Dusko Ivanovic’s team.
Mario Hezonja was the only one who responded to the Baskonista shooter, while Codi Miller-McIntyre won the base battle against Facundo Campazzo.
Baskonia achieved a lead of ten points, 37-27, but the entry of Sergio Rodríguez gave another breath to Real Madrid, who endorsed a 2-9 to get back into the game.
Eight points from Vanja Marinkovic sustained Baskonia, who did not take their foot off the accelerator and were more comfortable playing with speed despite the fact that their inside game could not rise to the level of Vincent Poirier.
‘Chacho’ continued to drive the Madrid motor and was key in the quarter on the edge of half-time to leave the score at 56-52
The intensity of Nikos Rogkavopoulos cushioned Real Madrid’s great outing on the court after passing through the locker room and infected Vanja Marinkovic and Codi Miller-McIntyre to regain the lead of 10 points, while the whites were excessively determined to find Edy Tavares.
The defense of the Chus Mateo changed and they endorsed a 3-12 that tightened the score again before facing the last round (73-72).
Seven points in a row from Markus Howard lit the Buesa Arena boiler, but three triples from Real Madrid, which began to increase percentages from the outside, turned the score around (80-88) with 5 minutes left, when Guerschon Yabusele appeared.
Baskonia did not give up and returned to the game with the march that Codi Miller-McIntyre put in. Facundo Campazzo took the helm and closed the duel, 98-102, by taking advantage of two bad decisions by Baskonia, who failed to stop the white streak in the last quarter.