Barcelona, Real Madrid and Caja Laboral all advanced to the next stages of the Spanish ACB play-offs while Valencia were pegged back by Lagun Aro, forcing a game three tomorrow night.
Barca thrash Alicante
Regal FC Barcelona are comfortably through to the next round, and were always comfortable away at Lucentum Alicante, winning 84-57, as head coach Xavi Pascual ended up using most of his bench for the majority of the game.
The visitors were firmly in control from the get-go, leading 24-13 and they never looked threatened despite a promising spell in the second by the hosts.
Boniface Ndong led the victors with 14 points on 7/9 shooting. American Chuck Eidson chipped in with 13 points as well. Alicante were led by Pedro Llompart who hit 16.
Real ease to win in Seville
It was a similar story in Seville as Real Madrid beat Banca Civica 82-55 to win their series 2-0.
20 points from Jaycee Carroll led Madrid to the next round. A game they dominated from the off despite Seville cutting it to nine at the end of the third, Real countered and blitzed their opponents with a 26-8 final period.
Seville were led by Txemi Urtasun, who had 16 points.
Caja Laboral need OT to seal place in next round
In probably the most thrilling game of the night, Caja Labroal edged Gescrap Bilbao 90-88 after a session of overtime to win their series 2-0.
A three-pointer from Pablo Prigioni narrowed Baskonia’s deficit to 81-79 with 39 seconds remaining when Bilbao’s Marko Banic was fouled and had a chance to seal the game with free throws. He missed both which left sideline ball to Caja Laboral.
Prigioni made no mistake, driving to the lane for the easy lay-up as time expired.
In a tight overtime period, tied at 88 with four seconds remaining, Prigioni was fouled going to the hoop. He calmly made both. Aaron Jackson had a chance to send it to another quarter of OT but missed his lay-up as the buzzer sounded.
Fernando San Emerterio led Caja Laboral with 17 points but Prigioni got MVP honours with 13 points and a clutch bucket plus winning free throws in the fourth and overtime periods.
Lagun Aro force deciding game three
Lagun Aro defeated Valencia in overtime 86-82 after taking full advantage of the visitors foul trouble.
They had to come from behind though to get the win. Trailing by ten to start the fourth, Lagun Aro attacked their opponents in the final ten minutes, going on a 19-9 run and forcing the game to overtime, where they finished on a high to claim the win.
Lagun big man David Doblas led the charge with 21 points and nine rebounds. Valencia were led by Nando De Colo’s 13 points.
Game three is tomorrow night.
