Liga Endesa Round 24 (Regular Season): Real Madrid defeats Girona in the closest game of the week

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Tenth-ranked Basquet Girona (11-13) gave a tough game to first ranked Real Madrid (22-2) on Saturday. The visitors from Madrid managed to secure only two-point victory 95-93. However their fans expected much easier game. Real Madrid made 18-of-22 free shots (81.8 percent) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of Dominican point guard Andres Feliz (188-1997, college: Illinois) who helped to win the game recording 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Croatian forward Mario Hezonja (202-1995) who added 19 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American point guard Otis Livingston II (180-1996, college: GMU) with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Real Madrid have an impressive ten-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 22-2 record. Girona at the other side keeps the tenth place with 13 games lost. Real Madrid are looking forward to face Andorra (#16) at home in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Girona will play against Granada (#18) and is hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
Bottom-ranked Coviran Granada managed to get a third victory. This time they edged thirteenth-ranked Lleida 92-89. The winners were led by Croatian Luka Bozic (200-1996) who scored that evening 25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Lluis Costa supported him with 15 points. Even 25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists by American guard James Batemon (185-1997, college: LMU) did not help to save the game for Lleida. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Granada maintains eighteenth position with 3-21 record. Lleida lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the thirteenth place with 16 games lost. Granada will play against higher ranked Girona (#10) at home in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Lleida will play against Tenerife and hopes to get back on the winning track.
The game in Barcelona was also quite interesting. 5th ranked Unicaja (15-9) played at the court of sixth ranked FC Barcelona (16-8). FC Barcelona managed to secure a 6-point victory 97-91 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was Jan Vesely who scored 18 points and 7 rebounds (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!). At the other side the best for losing team was Aleksander Balcerowski who recorded 18 points and 5 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Barca moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Joventut. Loser Unicaja dropped to the seventh position with nine games lost. They share it with Tenerife. Barca will meet Zaragoza (#14) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Unicaja will play against Bilbao (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 24: Manresa lost to Rio Breogan on the opponent's court 78-91. Joventut managed to outperform Gran Canaria in a home game 92-84. Baskonia managed to beat Andorra on the road 88-79. Murcia crushed Bilbao on its own court 100-81. Valencia beat Burgos SP in a road game 79-74. Tenerife destroyed Zaragoza at home 99-76.
The most impressive stats of the last round was 20 points by Marcelinho Huertas of Tenerife.



Barca - Unicaja 97-91

The game in Barcelona was also quite interesting. 5th ranked Unicaja (15-9) played at the court of sixth ranked FC Barcelona (16-8). FC Barcelona managed to secure a 6-point victory 97-91 on Sunday. Barca shot 61.1 percent from the field and made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was Czech center Jan Vesely (210-1990) who scored 18 points and 7 rebounds (perfect from the field making all seven shots !!!). International Dario Brizuela (188-1994) chipped in 17 points. At the other side the best for losing team was Polish center Aleksander Balcerowski (217-2000) who recorded 18 points and 5 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) and Bosnian-Finnish power forward Emir Sulejmanovic (205-1995) added 19 points and 5 rebounds respectively. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Barca moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Joventut. Loser Unicaja dropped to the seventh position with nine games lost. They share it with Tenerife. Barca will meet Zaragoza (#14) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Unicaja will play against Bilbao (#9) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Barca: V.Jan 18+7reb, B.Dario 17+1reb, P.Kevin 11+1reb+2ast, C.Will 10+2reb+2ast, N.Miles 10+5reb+1ast, P.Joel 8+3reb+2ast
Unicaja: E.Sulejmanovic 19+5reb+1ast, A.Balcerowski 18+5reb+3ast, N.Djedovic 13+5reb+4ast, C.Duarte 11+1reb+4ast, K.Perry 10+1reb+5ast, T.Kalinoski 8+2reb

Girona - Real Madrid 93-95

Tenth-ranked Basquet Girona (11-13) gave a tough game to first ranked Real Madrid (22-2) on Saturday. The visitors from Madrid managed to secure only two-point victory 95-93. However their fans expected much easier game. Real Madrid made 18-of-22 free shots (81.8 percent) during the game. Worth to mention a great performance of Dominican point guard Andres Feliz (188-1997, college: Illinois) who helped to win the game recording 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and Croatian forward Mario Hezonja (202-1995) who added 19 points and 5 rebounds during the contest. The best for the losing side was American point guard Otis Livingston II (180-1996, college: GMU) with 24 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists and Montenegrin-American point guard Derek Needham (180-1990, college: Fairfield) scored 17 points and 4 assists. Four Real Madrid and five Girona players scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Real Madrid have an impressive ten-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 22-2 record. Girona at the other side keeps the tenth place with 13 games lost. Real Madrid are looking forward to face Andorra (#16) at home in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Girona will play against Granada (#18) and is hoping to prove to their fans that this time they can win.
Top scorers:
Real Madrid: H.Mario 19+5reb+1ast, F.Andres 17+7reb+4ast, L.Trey 16+4reb+2ast, M.Theo 12+4reb+4ast, P.Gabriele 9+1reb, A.Alberto 6+1reb+4ast
Girona: O.Livingston II 24+8reb+5ast, D.Needham 17+4reb+4ast, M.Geben 12+5reb+2ast, J.Busquets 11+10reb+2ast, J.Vildoza 10+1reb+2ast, N.Maric 9

Rio Breogan - Manresa 91-78

Everything could happen at the game between two tied teams. Both twelfth ranked Breogan Lugo and 11th ranked BAXI Manresa had identical 9-14 record. This time Breogan Lugo used a home court advantage and beat the opponent from Manresa 91-78 on Saturday night. Rio Breogan dominated down low during the game scoring 48 of its points in the paint compared to BAXI Manresa's 26. The best player for the winners was Serbian Aleksandar Aranitovic (195-1998) who had a double-double by scoring 11 points and 10 rebounds. Croatian guard Dominik Mavra (195-1994) chipped in 13 points and 5 assists. Five Breogan Lugo players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was international forward Alejandro Reyes (202-1993) who recorded 21 points and 5 rebounds and the former international point guard Ferran Bassas (181-1992) added 14 points and 4 assists respectively. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Rio Breogan (10-14) moved-up to eleventh place. Manresa lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the twelfth position with 15 games lost. Rio Breogan will meet league's second-placed Valencia on the road in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Manresa will play against Baskonia (#4) where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Rio Breogan: A.Mihailo 15+4reb+2ast, A.Francis 14+2reb+3ast, M.Dominik 13+3reb+5ast, S.Jordan 12+4reb, A.Aleksandar 11+10reb+1ast, K.Arturs 9+2reb+1ast
Manresa: A.Reyes 21+5reb+1ast, F.Bassas 14+1reb+4ast, G.Knudsen 11+3reb, E.Brooks 8+3reb+4ast, R.Obasohan 7+2reb+3ast, K.Akobundu-Ehiogu 5+4reb+1ast

Granada - Lleida 92-89

Bottom-ranked Coviran Granada managed to get a third victory. This time they edged thirteenth-ranked Lleida 92-89. Granada made 35-of-41 charity shots (85.4 percent) during the game, while Lleida only scored nineteen points from the stripe. Lleida was plagued by 26 personal fouls down the stretch. The winners were led by Croatian Luka Bozic (200-1996) who scored that evening 25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists and the former international point guard Lluis Costa (187-1993, agency: Octagon Europe) supported him with 15 points. Even 25 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists by American guard James Batemon (185-1997, college: LMU) did not help to save the game for Lleida. The former international swingman Oriol Pauli (201-1994) added 11 points and 7 rebounds. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Granada maintains eighteenth position with 3-21 record. Lleida lost seventh consecutive game. They keep the thirteenth place with 16 games lost. Granada will play against higher ranked Girona (#10) at home in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Lleida will play against Tenerife and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Granada: B.Luka 25+7reb+4ast, C.Lluis 15+1reb+2ast, K.Jovan 12+4reb, P.Jassel 9+3reb+1ast, R.Jonathan 8+1reb+1ast, A.Amar 8+3reb+1ast
Lleida: J.Batemon 25+7reb+4ast, M.Ejim 16+3reb, O.Pauli 11+7reb+3ast, M.Sanz 8+1reb, C.Krutwig 8+3reb+1ast, J.Shurna 6+2ast

Joventut - Gran Canaria 92-84

Very predictable result in Badalona where seventh ranked Joventut (16-8) defeated 15th ranked Gran Canaria (7-17) 92-84 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was American Cameron Hunt (192-1997, college: Southwestern, KS) who scored 23 points. The former international point guard Ricky Rubio (192-1990) chipped in 21 points. At the other side the best for losing team was American Isaiah Wong (193-2001, college: Miami, FL) who recorded 19 points and 5 assists and French power forward Pierre Pelos (205-1992) added 17 points and 6 rebounds respectively. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Joventut have an impressive six-game winning streak. They moved-up to fifth place, which they share with Barca. Gran Canaria lost fifth consecutive game. They keep the fifteenth position with 17 games lost. Joventut will meet at home higher ranked Murcia (#3) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Gran Canaria will play against Burgos SP (#17) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Joventut: H.Cameron 23+1ast, R.Ricky 21+2reb+1ast, P.Jabari 14+4reb+3ast, H.Ludvig 12+2reb+3ast, H.Drell 6+3reb, A.Miguel 6+2reb+1ast
Gran Canaria: I.Wong 19+3reb+5ast, N.Brussino 17+4reb+1ast, P.Pelos 17+6reb, C.Metu 13+6reb+1ast, E.Vila 7+1reb, Z.Samar 5+5reb+5ast

Andorra - Baskonia 79-88

Not a big story in a game when 16th ranked MoraBanc Andorra (6-18) was defeated at home by fourth ranked Baskonia (16-7) 88-79 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was American point guard Trent Forrest (194-1998, college: FSU) who scored 21 points and 5 assists. French swingman Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (198-1995) chipped in 20 points and 6 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Ukrainian center Artem Pustovyi (219-1992, agency: Octagon Europe) who recorded a double-double by scoring 23 points and 13 rebounds (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field) and American guard Sir'Jabari Rice (193-1998, college: Texas) added 18 points and 5 assists respectively. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Baskonia maintains fourth position with 16-7 record. Andorra lost third consecutive game. They keep the sixteenth place with 18 games lost. They share the position with Burgos SP. Baskonia will meet Manresa (#12) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Andorra will play against the league's leader Real Madrid (#1) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Baskonia: F.Trent 21+2reb+5ast, L.Timothe 20+6reb, S.Matteo 11+1reb+1ast, O.Eugene 10+1ast, S.Kobi 9+3reb+1ast, D.Mamadi 7
Andorra: A.Pustovyi 23+13reb+1ast, S.Rice 18+4reb+5ast, X.Castaneda 8+2reb+3ast, K.Kuric 8+3reb+1ast, S.Evans II 6+1reb+4ast, K.Kostadinov 6+2reb

Murcia - Bilbao 100-81

Everything went according to plan in Murcia where third ranked UCAM (17-7) outscored 9th ranked Surne Bilbao (14-11) 100-81 on Saturday. Murcia made 16-of-21 free shots (76.2 percent) during the game. They shot the lights out from three sinking 16 long-distance shots on high 51.6 percentage. Murcia looked well-organized offensively handing out 22 assists. The best player for the winners was American-Slovakian point guard David DeJulius (183-1999, college: Cincinnati) who scored 18 points and 6 assists. American-Montenegrin Jonah Radebaugh (191-1997, college: N.Colorado, agency: Octagon Europe) chipped in 16 points. At the other side the best for losing team was American Darrun Hilliard (198-1993, college: Villanova) who recorded 18 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) and Icelandic center Tryggvi Hlinason (215-1997) added 16 points and 8 rebounds (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) respectively. Five Murcia and four Bilbao players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. UCAM have a solid three-game winning streak. Murcia maintains third position with 17-7 record having five points less than leader Real Madrid. Loser Surne Bilbao keeps the ninth place with 11 games lost. Murcia will meet Joventut (#5) in the next round. Bilbao will play against Unicaja (#8) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Murcia: M.Kelan 18+2reb+1ast, D.David 18+2reb+6ast, R.Jonah 16+3reb+3ast, S.Howard 14+3reb+2ast, C.Devontae 10+5reb+2ast, F.Michael 9+1reb
Bilbao: D.Hilliard 18+5reb+4ast, T.Hlinason 16+8reb+1ast, M.Normantas 11+2reb+3ast, M.Pantzar 11+1reb+2ast, B.Bagayoko 8+3reb, S.Lazarevic 6+2reb+1ast

Burgos SP - Valencia 74-79

There was no surprise when 17th ranked Burgos (6-18) was defeated at home by third ranked Valencia (17-6) 79-74 on Sunday. Valencia looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was international Sergio de Larrea (198-2005) who scored 20 points and 7 assists. Senegalese guard Brancou Badio (191-1999) chipped in 12 points and 6 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Brazilian Leonardo Meindl (201-1993) who recorded a double-double by scoring 11 points and 10 rebounds and American forward Jermaine Samuels Jr (200-1998, college: Villanova) added 13 points and 8 rebounds respectively. Four Burgos SP players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Valencia moved-up to second place. Newly promoted Burgos SP dropped to the sixteenth position with 18 games lost. They share it with Andorra. Valencia will meet at home Rio Breogan (#11) in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Burgos SP will play against Gran Canaria (#15) in Las Palmas and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Valencia: d.Sergio 20+3reb+7ast, B.Brancou 12+6reb, R.Nathan 10+4reb+1ast, P.Josep 9+3reb+1ast, T.Darius 7+7reb+3ast, M.Omari 7+2reb+3ast
Burgos SP: C.Gonzalo 15+6reb+3ast, J.Samuels Jr. 13+8reb+3ast, L.Meindl 11+10reb+3ast, J.Axel Gudmundsson 10+4ast, L.Fischer 8+5reb, D.Diez 8+8reb

Tenerife - Zaragoza 99-76

No shocking result in a game when eighth ranked Tenerife (15-9) outleveled at home 14th ranked Zaragoza (7-16) 99-76 on Sunday. Tenerife looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists. The best player for the winners was Brazilian-Italian point guard Marcelinho Huertas (191-1983) who scored 20 points (on 8-of-10 shooting from the field). Uruguayan point guard Bruno Fitipaldo (183-1991) chipped in 18 points. At the other side the best for losing team was Montenegrin center Bojan Dubljevic (205-1991) who recorded 9 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and American point guard Justin Wright-Foreman (183-1997, college: Hofstra) added 15 points respectively. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. Tenerife have a solid three-game winning streak. They moved-up to seventh place, which they share with Unicaja. Loser Zaragoza keeps the fourteenth position with 16 games lost. Tenerife will meet Lleida (#13) on the road in the next round where they are favorite. Zaragoza will play against Barca and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Tenerife: H.Marcelinho 20+3reb+3ast, F.Bruno 18+2reb+3ast, S.Giorgi 15+3reb+1ast, M.Patty 12+1ast, F.Jaime 9+3reb+7ast, G.Fran 8+3reb+1ast
Zaragoza: J.Wright-Foreman 15+1reb+2ast, I.Washington 11+3reb+3ast, D.Robinson 10+1reb, M.Gonzalez 9+5reb, B.Dubljevic 9+6reb+4ast, S.Yusta 7+2reb+1ast