The Liga Endesa regular season is now behind us and the playoff picture is now known for this year’s edition of Liga Endesa. Every week is thrilling in this league, but with the playoff seeds still up in the air and the fate of the last relegation team unknown, performances were even better this week.
Manresa is staying in the league. Capitalizing on Real Madrid’s Euroleague hangover, but also after playing a great game, they won in Madrid 90-80. With their league status on the line they started poorly in the first quarter scoring only 10 points as they were down 12. After being down seven at halftime, the comeback began in the third quarter which they won by nine points.
In the final period DJ Seeley led the visitors to victory after scoring couple of tough shots to put his team up 10 with three minutes to go and Manresa could start to celebrate. Sergio Llull led the home side with 19.
Gipuzkoa lost in Zaragoza 72-65 and they are the team that will be relegated along with Fuenlabrada. Real secured the number one seed before this game and will face Gran Canaria in the first round of the playoffs.
Barcelona clinched the number three seed after their 84-74 win over Andorra. Barcelona again shot well from the three point line like they have all season, but it was their rebounding that got them the win in this one. They outrebounded the visitors 46-27.
Justin Doellman led Barca with 13. Nate Jawai had 16 for the visitors. Barcelona will face Catalan neighbours
Joventut in the first round of the playoffs.
Best game of the week happened in Bilbao where Unicaja was able to steal 94-93 win after overtime. It was a back and forth game with Unicaja having the ball with 18 seconds left in OT being down two. Ryan Toolson who led Unicaja in this game with 22 points nailed a tough contested three to put his team up. Bilbao wasn’t able to score at the other end and visitors got a nice confidence boost for the playoffs where they will face Laboral Kutxa.
Bilbao will face Valencia as a number four seed having a home court advantage.
Elsewhere around the league Estudiantes got a 84-75 win over Gran Canaria at home, Murcia crushed Tenerife 104-81, Laboral Kutxa got another road win in Obradorio 74-81. Sevilla edged out Joventut 77-70, and Fuenlabrada got crushed at home by Valencia 87-64.
