Liga Endesa Round 17 (Regular Season): Barca lose to Tenerife

Liga Endesa is at the halfway of the Regular Season and there are still another 17 rounds left. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The game between second ranked FC Barcelona (12-5) and eighth ranked Tenerife (10-7) was the most important one in the last round on Sunday night. FC Barcelona was defeated by Tenerife in a tough game in Barcelona 82-89. It ended at the same time the 90-game winning streak of FC Barcelona. Tenerife shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 52.2 percentage. Georgian center Giorgi Shermadini (216-1989, agency: Octagon Europe) orchestrated the victory by scoring 14 points and 5 rebounds. International point guard Jaime Fernandez (186-1993) contributed with 10 points and 5 assists for the winners. American forward Miles Norris (208-2000, college: UCSB) answered with 14 points and 7 rebounds for Barca. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tenerife moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Joventut. Barca at the other side dropped to the third position with five games lost. Tenerife is looking forward to face higher ranked Baskonia (#4) in Vitoria in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Barca will play on the road against Murcia and is hoping to win this game.
Liga Endesa top team - Real Madrid (15-2) had no problems winning another game. This time they beat twelfth ranked Breogan Lugo (7-10) 103-85. Croatian forward Mario Hezonja (202-1995) stepped up and scored 28 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and Chuma Okeke chipped in 9 points and 6 rebounds. Croatian guard Dominik Mavra (195-1994) responded with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Real Madrid have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 15-2 record. Rio Breogan at the other side keeps the twelfth position with ten games lost. They share it with Manresa. Real Madrid will play against Zaragoza (#14) at home in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Rio Breogan will play against Granada and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Malaga was also quite interesting. 4th placed UCAM (11-6) played at the court of sixth ranked Unicaja (11-6). Unicaja managed to secure a 4-point victory 92-88 on Sunday. Chris Duarte nailed 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side. David DeJulius came up with 25 points and 8 assists for Murcia in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Unicaja have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Murcia. Unicaja will meet Manresa (#12) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Murcia will play against Barca (#3) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 17: Girona beat Zaragoza on the road 94-90. Baskonia won against Joventut on its own court 87-77. Burgos SP unfortunately lost to Lleida in a road game 72-73. Gran Canaria recorded a loss to Valencia at home 80-90. Bilbao defeated Granada on the opponent's court 88-84. Manresa beat Andorra in a home game 91-84.



Barca - Tenerife 82-89

The game between second ranked FC Barcelona (12-5) and eighth ranked Tenerife (10-7) was the most important one in the last round on Sunday night. FC Barcelona was defeated by Tenerife in a tough game in Barcelona 82-89. It ended at the same time the 90-game winning streak of FC Barcelona. Tenerife shot the lights out from three sinking 12 long-distance shots on high 52.2 percentage. Georgian center Giorgi Shermadini (216-1989, agency: Octagon Europe) orchestrated the victory by scoring 14 points and 5 rebounds. International point guard Jaime Fernandez (186-1993) contributed with 10 points and 5 assists for the winners. American forward Miles Norris (208-2000, college: UCSB) answered with 14 points and 7 rebounds and Czech center Jan Vesely (210-1990) added 17 points (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) in the effort for Barca. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Tenerife moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Joventut. Barca at the other side dropped to the third position with five games lost. Tenerife is looking forward to face higher ranked Baskonia (#4) in Vitoria in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Barca will play on the road against Murcia and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Tenerife: S.Giorgi 14+5reb, H.Marcelinho 11+5ast, V.Wesley 11+1reb+1ast, F.Jaime 10+1reb+5ast, G.Fran 10+1reb+1ast, D.Aaron 8+3reb
Barca: J.Vesely 17+2reb+1ast, N.Laprovittola 14+1ast, M.Norris 14+7reb, K.Punter 14+3reb+2ast, T.Shengelia 5+2reb+1ast, J.Parra 5+4reb+2ast

Zaragoza - Girona 90-94

No shocking result in a game when tenth ranked Basquet Girona (8-9) beat on the road 13th ranked Zaragoza (6-10) 94-90 on Saturday. Girona looked well-organized offensively handing out 26 assists. American guard Mark Hughes (195-1997, college: Wright St.) nailed 24 points for the winning side and Bosnian forward Nikola Maric (207-1998, college: UALR) accounted for 12 points and 5 rebounds. The former international Santiago Yusta (200-1997) came up with 27 points and 6 rebounds and American forward Devin Robinson (203-1995, college: Florida) added 18 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Zaragoza in the defeat. Four Zaragoza players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Girona maintains tenth place with 8-9 record, which they share with Lleida. Loser Zaragoza dropped to the fourteenth position with ten games lost. They share it with Gran Canaria. Girona will meet at home Burgos SP (#17) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Zaragoza will play against the league's leader Real Madrid and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Girona: H.Mark 24+3reb+3ast, M.Nikola 12+5reb+2ast, L.Otis 11+1reb+2ast, G.Martinas 10+4reb+3ast, F.Juan 8+5reb+1ast, M.Sergi 8+7reb+1ast
Zaragoza: S.Yusta 27+6reb+2ast, D.Robinson 18+8reb, J.Rodriguez 18+6reb+2ast, T.Bell-Haynes 16+3reb+5ast, J.Soriano 4+1reb, M.Spissu 3+1reb+6ast

Baskonia - Joventut 87-77

Rather expected game when 7th ranked Joventut (10-7) lost to fifth ranked Baskonia (11-5) in Vitoria 77-87 on Sunday. Baskonia made 16-of-19 free shots (84.2 percent) during the game. American point guard Trent Forrest (194-1998, college: FSU) nailed 15 points and 5 assists for the winning side and Guinean forward Mamadi Diakite (206-1997, college: Virginia) accounted for 13 points and 7 rebounds. Four Baskonia players scored in double figures. American Cameron Hunt (192-1997, college: Southwestern, KS) came up with 23 points and Croatian center Ante Tomic (217-1987) added 14 points and 6 rebounds respectively for Joventut in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Baskonia have an impressive series of seven victories in a row. They moved-up to fourth place. Loser Joventut keeps the seventh position with seven games lost. They share it with Tenerife. Baskonia will meet Tenerife (#8) on the road in the next round. Joventut will play against Bilbao and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Baskonia: K.Rodions 16+2reb, F.Trent 15+4reb+5ast, D.Mamadi 13+7reb+1ast, L.Timothe 13+3reb+3ast, S.Kobi 10+1reb+3ast, R.Gytis 8+5reb+3ast
Joventut: C.Hunt 23+3reb+2ast, A.Tomic 14+6reb+2ast, S.Birgander 9+7reb+1ast, A.Hanga 9, R.Rubio 7+1reb+6ast, Y.Kraag 3+10reb+1ast

Rio Breogan - Real Madrid 85-103

Liga Endesa top team - Real Madrid (15-2) had no problems winning another game. This time they beat twelfth ranked Breogan Lugo (7-10) 103-85. Real Madrid shot the lights out from three nailing 15 long-distance shots on high 51.7 percentage. Their players were unselfish on offense dishing 25 assists. Croatian forward Mario Hezonja (202-1995) stepped up and scored 28 points and 6 rebounds for the winners and American forward Chuma Okeke (202-1998, college: Auburn) chipped in 9 points and 6 rebounds. Croatian guard Dominik Mavra (195-1994) responded with 17 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Danish Bakary Dibba (206-2001, agency: Blacktop Management) scored 12 points and 5 rebounds. Four Rio Breogan players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Real Madrid have a solid series of three victories in a row. Defending champion maintains first place with 15-2 record. Rio Breogan at the other side keeps the twelfth position with ten games lost. They share it with Manresa. Real Madrid will play against Zaragoza (#14) at home in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Rio Breogan will play against Granada and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Real Madrid: H.Mario 28+6reb+2ast, L.Alex 12+4reb+1ast, G.Usman 12+2reb, O.Chuma 9+6reb+2ast, F.Andres 9+1reb+1ast, C.Facundo 8+1reb+6ast
Rio Breogan: D.Mavra 17+5reb+4ast, F.Alonso 14+2reb+1ast, B.Dibba 12+5reb+2ast, K.Cook 10+4reb, D.Brankovic 7+4reb+1ast, D.Russell 6+2reb+6ast

Lleida - Burgos SP 73-72

Very predictable result when eleventh ranked Lleida (8-9) edged at home 17th ranked Burgos (3-14) 73-72 on Saturday. However just one-point win is not that big difference and the fans of host team counted on more convincing victory. Lleida made 17-of-22 free shots (77.3 percent) during the game. American guard James Batemon (185-1997, college: LMU) nailed 30 points and 5 rebounds for the winning side and American-Lithuanian John Shurna (204-1990, college: Northwestern) accounted for 11 points and 8 rebounds. American-North Macedonian center Ethan Happ (208-1996, college: Wisconsin) came up with a double-double by scoring 12 points and 10 rebounds and Argentinian swingman Gonzalo Corbalan (193-2002, college: LCU) added 12 points and 8 rebounds respectively for Burgos SP in the defeat. Four Burgos SP players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Lleida have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to tenth place, which they share with Girona. Burgos SP lost third consecutive game. Newly promoted team keeps the seventeenth position with 14 games lost. Lleida will meet league's second-placed Valencia on the road in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Burgos SP will play against Girona (#10) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Lleida: B.James 30+5reb+3ast, E.Melvin 12+3reb+1ast, S.John 11+8reb+1ast, A.Diagne 6+7reb, A.Caleb 6+1reb+1ast, S.Mikel 5+1reb+2ast
Burgos SP: J.Samuels Jr. 15+4reb, C.Gonzalo 12+8reb+3ast, E.Happ 12+10reb+3ast, L.Meindl 10+6reb+1ast, R.Neto 9+5reb+3ast, J.Jackson 7+2reb+1ast

Gran Canaria - Valencia 80-90

Not a big story in a game when 13th ranked Gran Canaria (6-10) lost to third ranked Valencia (12-4) in Las Palmas 80-90 on Sunday. The former international power forward Jaime Pradilla (202-2001) nailed a double-double by scoring 13 points, 13 rebounds and 4 assists for the winning side and American Kameron Taylor (198-1994, college: Seton Hill) accounted for 12 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Four Valencia players scored in double figures. American Isaiah Wong (193-2001, college: Miami, FL) came up with 23 points and American-Slovenian center Mike Tobey (213-1994, college: Virginia) added 13 points and 7 rebounds respectively for Gran Canaria in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Valencia moved-up to second place. Gran Canaria lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fourteenth position with ten games lost. They share it with Zaragoza. Valencia will meet at home Lleida (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Gran Canaria will play against Andorra and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Valencia: M.Jean 17+1reb+3ast, T.Darius 14+3reb+2ast, P.Jaime 13+13reb+4ast, T.Kameron 12+5reb+5ast, R.Nathan 9+2reb, L.Xabier 9+9reb+1ast
Gran Canaria: I.Wong 23+4reb+3ast, M.Salvo 16+4reb+1ast, M.Tobey 13+7reb+1ast, N.Brussino 8+3reb, E.Vila 6+2reb+1ast, K.Robertson 5+1reb

Granada - Bilbao 84-88

Everything went according to plan when ninth ranked Surne Bilbao (9-8) defeated on the road bottom-ranked Coviran Granada (1-16) 88-84 on Saturday. Strangely Granada outrebounded Bilbao 45-33 including 31 on the defensive glass. American guard Justin Jaworski (190-1999, college: Lafayette) nailed 25 points for the winning side and his fellow American import Darrun Hilliard (198-1993, college: Villanova) accounted for 15 points and 5 rebounds. Croatian Luka Bozic (200-1996) came up with 25 points and 5 rebounds and Dominican swingman Jassel Perez (195-2001) added 22 points and 8 rebounds (was perfect 13-for-13 from the free throw line !!!) respectively for Granada in the defeat. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Surne Bilbao have a solid series of four victories in a row. They maintain ninth place with 9-8 record. Granada lost eleventh consecutive game. They stay at the bottom position with 16 games lost. Bilbao will meet at home higher ranked Joventut (#7) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Granada will play against Rio Breogan (#13) and hope to win that game.
Top scorers:
Bilbao: J.Justin 25+4reb+1ast, H.Darrun 15+5reb+2ast, N.Margiris 13+1reb+1ast, K.Martin 10+3reb+1ast, H.Tryggvi 9+7reb+5ast, F.Harald 8+3reb+4ast
Granada: L.Bozic 25+5reb+2ast, J.Perez 22+8reb, A.Brimah 8+6reb+1ast, A.Alibegovic 6+9reb+2ast, L.Costa 6+3reb+1ast, W.Howard 6+4reb

Manresa - Andorra 91-84

There was no surprise when 16th ranked MoraBanc Andorra (4-13) lost on the road to fourteenth ranked BAXI Manresa (7-10) 91-84 on Sunday. Belgian-Nigerian guard Retin Obasohan (191-1993, college: Alabama) nailed 22 points and 4 assists for the winning side and Latvian Marcis Steinbergs (208-2001) accounted for 15 points. Ukrainian center Artem Pustovyi (219-1992, agency: Octagon Europe) came up with 18 points (on 8-of-9 shooting from the field) and Slovakian-American Kyle Kuric (193-1989, college: Louisville) added 16 points respectively for Andorra in the defeat. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Manresa moved-up to twelfth place, which they share with Rio Breogan. Andorra lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the sixteenth position with 13 games lost. Manresa will meet at home higher ranked Unicaja (#5) in the next round and it will be quite challenging to get another victory. Andorra will play against Gran Canaria (#15) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Manresa: O.Retin 22+3reb+4ast, R.Alejandro 16+2reb+1ast, S.Marcis 15+2reb+3ast, B.Eli 11+3reb+3ast, O.Louis 10+4reb+3ast, O.Pierre 9+8reb+1ast
Andorra: A.Pustovyi 18+2reb+3ast, K.Kuric 16+3reb+1ast, S.Evans II 12+1reb+6ast, M.Udeze 12+6reb+1ast, S.Okoye 10+1reb, Y.Pons 5+1reb

Unicaja - Murcia 92-88

The game in Malaga was also quite interesting. 4th placed UCAM (11-6) played at the court of sixth ranked Unicaja (11-6). Unicaja managed to secure a 4-point victory 92-88 on Sunday. Unicaja made 22-of-27 free shots (81.5 percent) during the game. They looked well-organized offensively handing out 21 assists. Dominican swingman Chris Duarte (197-1997, college: Oregon) nailed 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for the winning side and American James Webb III (205-1993, college: Boise St.) accounted for 17 points and 7 rebounds. American point guard David DeJulius (183-1999, college: Cincinnati) came up with 25 points and 8 assists and Romanian center Emanuel Cate (207-1997) added 10 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists respectively for Murcia in the defeat. Five Unicaja and four Murcia players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Unicaja have a solid series of three victories in a row. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Murcia. Unicaja will meet Manresa (#12) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Murcia will play against Barca (#3) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Unicaja: D.Chris 20+6reb+5ast, W.James 17+7reb+1ast, P.Kendrick 12+6ast, B.Aleksander 12+2reb+3ast, D.Nihad 12+7reb, T.Perez 11+13reb+1ast
Murcia: D.DeJulius 25+3reb+8ast, D.Ennis 13+6reb+2ast, H.Sant-Roos 12+4reb+1ast, T.Nakic 10+1reb, E.Cate 10+9reb+5ast, S.Raieste 6+8reb+1ast