In a rematch between last season’s Liga Endesa finalists, an inspired third-quarter display propelled Real Madrid Baloncesto to a 94-79 victory over Valencia Basket on Matchday 16 at the Movistar Arena.
Victory over second-placed Valencia marked the hosts’ fifth consecutive success and third win in the space of a week, following on from their 90-85 triumph against MoraBanc Andorra and their EuroLeague demolition of Barcelona on Friday night at the Movistar Arena. It also means that Sergio Scariolo’s side have now won 13 of their last 14 Endesa matches this season, as they extended their lead at the head of the league table.
The visitors started brightly and, led by Nate Reuvers who scored 17 points in Valencia’s narrow EuroLeague defeat to Fenerbahce in midweek, charged into a 12-6 lead midway through the first quarter. Coming into the matchday, the Taronja topped the league statistics in several attacking areas, and their offensive quality was on full display during the opening stages, further stretching their advantage as the quarter progressed.
As well as averaging more points scored per game than any other side, Valencia also topped the league standings for three-pointers, averaging nearly 12 per match, and Pedro Martinez’s men were on fire from behind the 6.75 metre line in the opening stages. The away side found the basket from 7 of their 12 attempts, while they were simultaneously assisted by Madrid’s difficulties in that area. The hosts failed to convert any of their nine three-pointer efforts, as Los Blancos found themselves 24-9 behind at the end of the first 10 minutes.
However, impressive defensive work from Usman Garuba, as well as several spectacular three-pointers from Sergio Llull, during the second quarter brought spectators within the Movistar Arena to their feet and helped to swing the tide in Madrid’s favour. The momentum shift was also aided by the visitors’ inability to maintain their scoring power of the opening 10 minutes, as Valencia managed to score only four of their thirteen attempts at two-pointers during the second quarter. David Krämer and Mario Hezonja also contributed with three-pointers of their own for Madrid, in an exhilarating second quarter which saw Los Blancos completely obliterate Valencia’s advantage and head into half-time tied at 43-43.
Roared on by a raucous home support, Scariolo’s team came flying out of the blocks in the third-quarter, blowing Valencia away with some of their attacking plays. Hezonja, Madrid’s leading average points scorer in the league so far this season, accumulated 15 points inside the first six minutes of the quarter, including two successive scores from behind the 6.75 metre line, to drive his side into a 65-51 lead. Although Jean Montero and Darius Thompson contributed for Pedro Martinez’s side with eight and six points respectively, Valencia were unable to respond to the runaway Madrid train which left the hosts with a dominant 76-60 lead heading into the final ten minutes of play.
Barring a final quarter collapse, the Madrid players and fans knew that they were assured of victory heading into the last 10 minutes of play, and Los Blancos played in a professional manner to see out the victory. They never allowed the Taronja within touching distance, and maintained their lead up until the final buzzer to claim victory by 15 points.
A win for Scariolo continues his side’s strong head-to-head record at home, as they secured their sixth consecutive league success at the Movistar Arena against Valencia. However, in the third meeting between the two sides in all competitions so far this season, the result marks Madrid’s first triumph, having lost to Valencia in both the ACB Super Cup in September and in the EuroLeague just over two months ago.
Both teams retain their respective positions in the league table, but a defeat for Martinez’s side means that they fall further adrift of league leaders Madrid, who now boast a record of 14-2 in the competition. Valencia, meanwhile, remain in 2nd position, albeit with two more defeats from their 16 matches than Los Merengues. EuroLeague action now beckons for both squads in midweek, with Madrid hosting Emporio Armani Milano and Monaco Basket before they travel to take on Breogán in the league next weekend. The Taronja, in contrast, welcome Paris to the Roig Arena on Tuesday and head to Munich to take on Bayern, before their next league assignment away to Gran Canaria on Sunday.
Referees: Fernando Calatrava (Spain), Arnau Padrós (Spain) and Igor Esteve (Andorra)
Real Madrid Roster: Lyles; Krämer; Abalde; Campazzo; Hezonja; Maledon; Deck; Garuba; Tavares; Llull; Feliz; Len
Valencia Basket Roster: Badio; Taylor; Puerto; Reuvers; Pradilla; López-Arostegui; Key; Montero; Moore; Thompson; Costello; Sima