In the Euroleague, they also lost the second match of the quarter-final series Tad Sedekerskis the Vitoria “Baskonia” team is represented.
Lithuanian club away 90:101 (21:23, 19:23, 23:28, 27:27) had to admit the advantage of Real Madrid basketball players.
The defending champions Real won the first match, which was also held in Madrid, convincingly (90:74), so they now have a 2-0 lead in the series up to three wins and can already grab a ticket to the final four in the next match in Vitoria.
One of the leaders of the team, Chima Moneke, could not help the Vitoria club in this meeting as well.
Matthew Costello (3-0) started the match with a long shot, and soon Nikos Rogkavopolous added a three-pointer – 6-0. Mario Hezonja (2:6) scored the hosts’ first points, and soon Real equalized the result – 6:6. The teams exchanged effective attacks (11:11), and M. Hezonja led the Madrid club ahead with an extremely long three-pointer – 14:11. The difference was increased by Facundo Campazzo (16:11), but the good play of T. Sedekerskis and Sander Raieste allowed the Basques to get closer (17:18), and Vanja Marinkovići put the guests ahead – 19:18. Real ended the first quarter more successfully – 23:21.
In the first minutes of the second half, Sergio Llull increased the advantage of the Madrid team with a three-pointer (31:24), but Markus Howard responded with a long shot – 27:31. The hosts were hindered by Gabriel Deck (35:27), and Vincent Poirier created a double-digit advantage – 37:27. T. Sedekerskis and V. Marinkovići collected points for the guests (32:37), and after Chris Chiozza’s three-pointer, two points separated the teams – 37:39. Real increased the gap again (43:37), and after two quarters the Euroleague champions were ahead 46:40.
After the break, Walter Tavares increased the advantage of the Madrid team to 8 points (51:43), but Vanja Marinković collected the points with a foul – 46:51. F. Campazzo, the offensive player of the Madrid team, continued the frenzy (56:47), but T. Sedekerskis answered with two points – 49:56. M. Howard further reduced the deficit (54:58), but F. Campazzo and G. Yabusele were accurate – 63:54. The Madrid club increased the gap even more (70:57), and after three quarters had an 11-point lead – 74:63.
In the first minutes of the fourth quarter, Madrid’s basketball players answered the last questions in the second match of the series. After S. Llull’s three-pointer, the teams were already separated by 16 points (79:63), and G. Deckas increased the difference even more – 82:63. At the end of the match, M. Hezonja earned two technical fouls in a row and was sent off the field, but the Basques could not revive the real intrigue and the hosts celebrated the victory – 101:90.
T. Sedekerskis scored 9 points in 31 minutes (3/7 doubles, 1/3 triples), rebounded 6 balls, made 3 assists, intercepted the ball, provoked a foul, made 3 mistakes, was blocked once, violated the rules 2 times and scored 8 utility points.
F. Campazzo shone in the ranks of the winners – the Argentinian scored 24 points, made 7 assists and collected 33 utility points.
Real Madrid: Facundo Campazzo 24 (33 points), Guerschon Yabusele 16 (5 rebounds), Sergio Llull 13 (3/5 threes), Walter Tavares (9 rebounds), Gabriel Deck and Vincent Poirier (7 10 each.
Baskonia: Vanja Marinković 20 (24 points), C.Miller-McIntyre 13 (8 rebounds), Markus Howard 12 (3/8 triples), Matthew Costello 10 (4 rebounds), Nikos Rogkavopolous and Tadas Sedekerskis (6 rebounds) 9 each.
“Long break”: Wolves lineup for next season – which players lived up to expectations and who disappointed, who is worth keeping, candidates to strengthen the squad in the summer, the question mark over Pacevičius’ future and the figure of Maksvytis
