Real Madrid faced their first loss in the Endesa League this Sunday, slipping to a spirited Baskonia in a hard-fought 88-82 game at the Buesa Arena. Baskonia fed off the home crowd, pushing the pace and keeping the scoreboard tight throughout, reminding fans of their most memorable showings at this venue.
The match featured a lively exchange of scores, with both teams trading baskets as the game unfolded. Real Madrid, navigating the road trip after a short interruption, leaned on key contributors as Guerschon Yabusele led the effort on the floor while Baskonia continued to showcase its offensive depth for a signature win.
The French forward delivered 20 points while sharing the spotlight with Edy Tavares and Gabi Deck. Yet Baskonia’s balanced attack kept Madrid from settling into a comfortable rhythm, with Dalton Hormmes producing 24 points to keep the hosts within striking distance at every critical juncture.
The Whites started the game with a clear plan to dominate the interior, but inconsistent defense and a few missed chances allowed Baskonia to push ahead early. Madrid found themselves trailing 0-8 as the hosts controlled the tempo, using smart ball movement and careful perimeter pressure to limit Madrid’s kickouts and keep Edy Tavares under wraps.
Two early triples from Baskonia swung the momentum, and a string of plays from Latvian forward Arturs Kurucs helped level the game at 15 as the first quarter rolled on.
Argentina’s Deck drew a foul line in the forward zone, and Real Madrid moved the ball crisply to set up inside scoring opportunities, finishing the opening period with a 14-19 deficit after ten minutes of play.
Speed and transition play defined Baskonia’s response in the second period, as a 12-2 burst widened the gap and pushed the hosts ahead 26-21 in the opening minutes of the second frame.
The defensive one-on-one focus from Coach Joan Peñarroya’s squad paid dividends, and a pair of quick threes from Baskonia briefly opened a lead again before Madrid recognized the need to share the ball and play as a unit to maximize scoring chances.
Chus Mateo’s Madrid squad tightened up defensively in the opening minutes of the second quarter, closing the half with the score at 37-33 thanks to renewed organization and improved positioning in the paint.
The third period began with a flurry of errors from both sides, but Madrid found rhythm as Dzanan Musa shut down one Madrid drive and Baskonia pushed the tempo to take a 45-46 edge at the 27th minute mark, injecting speed into the game and increasing the tempo on both ends.
The locals regrouped and answered with a 0-8 run to swing the momentum again, reaching 55-58 with ten minutes remaining and signaling a tightly contested finish.
Damien Hommes became Baskonia’s catalyst in the final period, delivering several key plays while Madrid searched for a reliable scoring option beyond the usual trio. Baskonia’s four-player rotation balanced the scoring and kept Madrid from mounting a decisive push, as a strong Barça-like restart saw the home team pull ahead again with an 11-2 run.
Yabusele carried Real Madrid back into contention with a burst of offense, scoring 12 consecutive points to put Madrid up 75-78 with under three minutes remaining and igniting the crowd with late heroics. Baskonia remained faithful to its game plan, holding firm as Madrid pressed from the perimeter and forcing shots from beyond the arc while maintaining confidence in their own interior presence.
With the Buesa Arena roaring, Sergio Rodríguez connected on a crucial three for Baskonia, and Costello sealed the result with a late basket, giving Baskonia an 88-82 victory in a performance that reflected their resolve and tactical discipline.
Data sheet:
88 – Baskonia (14+23+18+33): Kurucs 11, Sedekerskis 7, Díez 6, Kotsar 6, Thomspon 10, Giedraitis 11, Hommes 24, Raieste 0, Costello 13.
82 – Real Madrid (19+14+25+24): Abalde 0, Moses 17, Deck 17, Cornelie 4, Tavares 13, Causeur 0, Sergio Rodríguez 5, Poirier 5, Hezonja 0, Llull 5, Yabusele 16.
Referees: Jordi Aliaga, Sergio Manuel and Alberto Sánchez Sixto. A technical foul was charged against guest player Yabusele in minute 35. Tavares was fouled out in minute 39.
Events: The match, part of the fourth day of the Endesa League, drew 9,611 spectators to the Fernando Buesa Arena in Vitoria.