Another great week is behind us in the best basketball league in Europe, as there were a lot of exciting games and some big upsets this week.
The biggest upset was Manresa’s win over the league leader Unicaja 80-76. Unicaja, possibly a little complacent playing against the last placed Manresa found themselves down by 20 at the end of the first half when Ryan Toolson hit a three to stop a run at 19 minute mark. Unicaja fought back and Toolson had a chance to tie the game with 25 seconds left, but he was stopped with an amazing block by Hasan Rizvić.
Manresa managed to hold on and they secured a huge win in their battle for the right to stay in the league.
Toolson led Unicaja with 19, and Ben Dewar had 19 for the winning side.
Another close game happened in Badalona, as Joventut hosted Real Madrid. Visitors were able to pull out the 80-81 win. Real was having problem throughout the first half as they were down by as many as 13 after a triple by Alex Suarez to beat the buzzer in the second quarter. Real bounced back in the third quarter and they took the lead with the minute left in the same period after Jaycee Carroll’s triple.
It was a sew-saw battle in the fourth quarter, but Sergio Rodrigez managed to ice the game from the free throw line for Real with 2 seconds left.
Sergi Vidal scored a team high 14 points, (11 from the free throw line) and Sergio Llull had 14 for the visitors.
Great game was played in Gran Canaria, as Copa Del Rey hosts managed to achieve upset victory over Barcelona, 76-70. Injury plagued year for Barcelona continued in this game as Alex Abrines bumped knees with Sasu Salin in the second quarter and didn’t come back in the game.
Albert Oliver was the difference in this game as he caught fire in the fourth quarter hitting 4 of his 5 three pointers in that period. Barcelona found themselves down 3 and they had two great looks in the final 40 seconds to tie the game, but both Brad Oleson and DeShaun Thomas missed those shots giving Canarians big victory.
Alber Oliver was terrific for Gran Canaria with 17 points in 19 minutes. Marcelinho Huertas had 16 for the losing side.
The only game of the week that was decided before halftime was the game in Murcia, as the hosts surprisingly crushed Bilbao Basket 91-65. Bilbao was playing without Dejan Todorović and Latavious Williams, who got suspended because of the fight that occurred last week in the game against Laboral Kutxa. Everything was decided in the first 20 minutes of the game as Murcia took 24 point lead to halftime.
Bilbao tried to rally back in the third and they got the lead down to 14 points, but Murcia took control again in the fourth, winning the game comfortably.
Thomas Kelati had 19 for Murcia, and Marko Todorović scored 15 for Bilbao.
Elsewhere, an NBA like scoring game was played in Valencia as Zaragoza took home important 106-109 win. Fuenlabrada pulled out a win against Sevilla at home 82-81, creating interesting situation where 4 relegation zone teams have the same win-loss record, 6-17. Laboral Kutxa did beat Morabanc Andorra 89-74, and Gipuzkoa edged out Obradoiro 97-94 in overtime.
