Real Madrid claimed a commanding lead in the Endesa League semi finals with a well earned victory over an industrious Bitci Baskonia. The hosts showed perseverance, but Walter Tavares imposed his dominance in the paint, while Fabien Causeur’s timely play helped seal the win in the third quarter, finishing at 94-84.
The white squad relied on teamwork and resilience, overcoming late drops by Alberto Abalde and mounting discomfort on the floor. The absence of Galicia added strain to managing the game after injuries to Carlos Alocén and Nigel Williams-Goss, and with Thomas Heurtel unavailable since March 31, Pablo Laso navigated a challenging lineup with depth and resolve.
Early in the game, the start did not meet expectations. Only Tavares found the basket from a cold outset, while Cape Verdean center contributed two early buckets. Baskonia continued to press with free throws until Rokas Giedraitis finished a counterattack and established early momentum for the visitors.
Then the game swung to the visitors moments as Sergio Llull connected on three straight baskets and Rudy Fernández provided leadership from afar. Despite notable individual plays from Wade Baldwin IV and Steven Enoch, Baskonia stayed within reach, moving with the flow and contest, trying to push Madrid to scramble for rhythm.
As the minutes rolled on, the first quarter grew tighter. Real Madrid held a slight edge after Rudy hit a late triple, and the rebound battle edged in favor of Baskonia in the early stages. Neven Spahija’s squad called a timeout down 22-19 after a brisk stretch of play where Tavares grabbed rebounds against the entire Baskonia frontline.
A social moment captured the scene as fans and players exchanged cheers and focus, including a post from the club and supporters. The game continued with another phase of shot difficulty, but Rudy delivered a successful jumper from the rim, keeping Madrid ahead by seven before Vanja Marinkovic answered with a quick trio, while Baldwin sparked a late surge to balance the score before halftime.
Both teams shot efficiently in the first half, with Madrid’s rhythm improving as the minutes passed. Rudy and Llull led Madrid in threes, while Marinkovic contributed three from Baskonia. At the break, it stood 44-42, a close contest that hinted at a dramatic second half.
At the restart, Madrid surged. An early 10-0 run stretched the lead to twelve as Fabien Causeur, Hanga, and the inside presence of Tavares created scoring chances and second chances alike. Baskonia, meanwhile, watched Spahija call a timeout as the visitors faced a rapid pace and relentless pressure inside the paint.
Causeur, supported by Hanga and a decisive post move by the big man, widened the gap. Baskonia struggled to contain Madrid as the score moved from 42-42 to 59-42 within six minutes. A 17-0 sequence pushed the hosts clear and allowed Laso to rotate his bench while Baskonia sought to regain footing without Baldwin, Fontecchio, and Giedraitis contributing as usual.
The narrative intensified as Causeur continued to push the tempo, complemented by timely contributions from teammates. The visitors found a brief tenacity from Peters and Costello, yet Madrid kept distance, entering the final stretch with a substantial cushion. The break in the flow did little to dampen Madrid’s momentum as the lead remained healthy heading into the final minutes.
In the closing stages, the pace quickened and both sides tightened their defense. Madrid managed the clock well while Baskonia tried to reclaim momentum, with Taylor and Hanga drilling timely triples to keep the game within reach. Laso took the opportunity to rotate the squad, giving minutes to youngsters Juan Núñez and Urban Klavžar as the result settled in Madrid’s favor.
In the data sheet, Real Madrid posted a 94-point performance with contributions across the lineup: Hanga 7, Taylor 4, Causeur 16, Yabusele 10, Tavares 12, Llull 9, Deck 8, Randolph 3, and Rudy Fernandez 14. Baskonia countered with Baldwin IV 10, Marinkovic 11, Peters 15, Giedraitis 10, and Enoch 9, among others, in a game that tested both teams to the final minute.
Officials for the night were Benjamin Jimenez, Carlos Cortes, and Javier Torres. The semifinal series in the Endesa League remains a best-of-five, with the next meeting set to unfold in the same arena as both sides aim to shift the balance in the series. This result keeps Real Madrid on course toward the final rounds of the competition, as fans anticipate the continuation of what proved to be a compelling matchup. Attribution: Endesa League