Real Betis failed to turn the moment into a lasting advantage, letting Real Madrid seize the game with energy still intact. The scoreline suggested a close battle, but Madrid held firm, protecting a lead that seemed fragile only minutes earlier. Nigel Williams-Goss delivered a decisive late basket that sealed the fate of Betis, a team that had clung to the chance of staying in the top league with a late surge. Across the court, Covirán’s late efforts helped Granada by pushing them to a nine-point margin in a different clash, adding another layer of drama to the round.
The Sevillians entered the match with belief they could extend their stay in the Endesa League, while Granada’s victory over Joventut meant nothing less than a win would suffice for Betis to guard their status. The team’s best performers, Jean Montero and Tyson Pérez, put up the most points and rebounds, showing the potential they needed. Yet the most critical moment arrived when the squad failed to convert in the final stretch, slipping at the worst possible time.
Luis Casimiro’s squad fought hard but could not score in the last two possessions, allowing Williams-Goss to condemn them to relegation with seconds on the clock. A field goal by the American sealed Betis’ fate after a tense late stage.
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— Endesa League (@ACBCOM)
Real Madrid began the afternoon riding a rhythm built on trio play and early dominance. Guerschon Yabusele and Alberto Abalde supplied the initial pressure, while Walter Tavares controlled the paint once again. Betis opened with a scoring drought that Madrid exploited to build a small cushion, and the Verdiblancos found themselves chasing as the home team stretched its lead.
Betis found a spark from Latvia’s Anze Pasecknis, who stepped in and immediately contributed eight points in five minutes, energizing his teammates. The game shifted as Dzanan Musa connected on a couple of 2 plus 1 plays that reignited the crowd at WiZink Center. The first period closed with a 24-19 score, marked by more errors than clean plays from both sides as they settled into a tense rhythm and Madrid attempted to set up for the playoffs.
As the second quarter unfolded, Pasecknis again gave Betis a lift, pushing the Sevilla team ahead for the first time. Tyson Pérez and Montero produced modest scoring, but Betis carried optimism into the locker room, maintaining a lead that suggested a possible upset. The teams traded chances, and the half ended with Betis ahead, though the scoreboard showed a tight balance at 38-38 after a flurry of mistakes and cold shooting from both sides.
Tavares limited his minutes early but returned to anchor Madrid’s interior play, continuing to dominate the rim. Yabusele opened the third with a couple of baskets that swung momentum back in Madrid’s favor. Montero then took the stage, adding 2 plus 1 plays that helped Betis regain a footing in the game while Casimiro’s men adjusted their rotation in preparation for a late surge.
When the moment arrived, Betis found it difficult to sustain momentum. A shout-out to the crowd and a quick burst from Jean Montero signaled Betis could still challenge, but the decisive sequences came from Madrid’s disciplined execution and Williams-Goss, who appeared at crucial junctures to push his team toward victory. The Madrid attack clicked in the late phases, and Betis found themselves scrambling to respond as the clock wound down.
Draws followed as the game wore on, with Real Madrid capitalizing on second-chance opportunities and Betis fighting to stay within reach. Tyson Pérez contributed a sequence of three-pointers and a 2 plus 1 that kept Madrid within sight of a larger cushion, preserving a mindset that they would not concede control easily. Madrid’s edge at the end of regulation looked enough to secure the win, even though Betis remained competitive to the final moments.
Casimiro’s squad entered the final period with a glimmer of hope, trailing but not out of contention. The teams exchanged blows, and Betis kept pace through Montero’s orchestrations and Cvetkovic’s contributions. Madrid adjusted its defense to prevent Betis from building any decisive run, and with Williams-Goss delivering the late knockout punch, the outcome was sealed.
Betis had one last chance to force a tie with six seconds remaining, but the shot did not fall, leaving the team to accept relegation alongside Carplus Fuenlabrada. The final whistle confirmed Madrid’s dominance and Betis’ difficult fate on this night.
Data sheet
79 – Real Madrid: Williams-Goss, Musa, Abalde, Yabusele, Tavares led the scoring with several key contributors. Other listed players included Ndiaye, Hezonja, Causeur, Llull, Cornelie, and Hanga in varying roles.
77 – Real Betis Basketball: Montero led the scoring for Betis with support from Pérez and Gerun. Pasecniks contributed 14 points, with additional contributions from Cvetkovic and Almazán. The rest of the squad filled roles as the game unfolded.
referees: Juan Carlos Garcia Gonzalez, Carlos Cortes and Sergio Manuel. The match was a decisive fifth of the Endesa League’s regular season, played at the WiZink Center in Madrid. In a show of solidarity, Real Madrid players wore a Vinicius jersey as a tribute during a period marked by racist incidents in a prior match, reflecting a message of unity on court. [Citation: Endesa League, ACBCOM]