Torneo Costa del Sol: Real Madrid Crush Unicaja to Claim Seventh Title

Real Madrid capped a landmark day by routing host Unicaja 113-74 in the final of the Torneo Costa del Sol, hours after all but completing their roster with the signing of Nick Smith Jr. The 22-year-old American guard, whose arrival had been reported in the preceding hours by Chema de Lucas and later confirmed by AS, agreed to a one-year deal after stints with the Charlotte Hornets and Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA.
On the court, Pedro Martinez's side closed out the preseason in emphatic fashion. Unicaja actually started the better of the two teams, Cameron Hunt (192-SG-1997, college: Southwestern, KS) scoring 13 points in a hot opening stretch to put the hosts ahead 27-25 after the first quarter, but the game turned entirely from there. Real Madrid raised the tempo and the pressure to dominate the second quarter 30-9 - Facundo Campazzo (181-PG-1991) setting the pace, Tavares asserting himself near the rim, and Theo Maledon (192-G-2001), Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (201-G/F-1995) and Jones finding their range - to lead 55-36 at the break. The third quarter brought no change in the script: Timothe Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, fresh off his 26-point outing against Tenerife, stayed sharp, while Theo Maledon became the main scoring option, finishing the night with 19 points in under 18 minutes as Real Madrid pushed the pace relentlessly to a 80-52 lead by the end of the period, the game effectively decided. The fourth quarter was more of the same, Chuma Okeke (202-F-1998, college: Auburn), Llull and Theo Maledon again pushing Real Madrid past the century mark to the final 113-74.
Theo Maledon's 19 points led six Real Madrid players in double figures, with Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot adding 16, Facundo Campazzo 15, Sarr 11, and Chuma Okeke and Gabriel Deck (198-F-1995) 10 apiece; the team distributed 24 assists, in keeping with the pace-and-share philosophy Pedro Martinez has installed. Kendrick Perry (183-PG-1992, college: YSU) led Unicaja with 16 points and Cameron Hunt added 15, while Willy Hernangomez (210-C-1994) closed with 11 points and 5 rebounds.
The win gives Real Madrid their seventh Torneo Costa del Sol title and closes out the preseason with three straight wins - over Baskonia, Tenerife and now Unicaja - following the opening defeat to Rio Breogan. Their next game carries real weight: Real Madrid face Dubai Basketball in the EuroLeague Supercup semi-final on Friday, September 18.