Liga Endesa Round 26 (Regular Season): Top-ranked Real Madrid wins another game

Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

Liga Endesa top team - Real Madrid (24-2) had no problems winning another game on Sunday. This time they beat fifteenth ranked Burgos (7-19) 94-78. Real Madrid outrebounded Burgos SP 47-31 including a 32-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Real Madrid looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Burgos SP's players. 25 personal fouls committed by Burgos SP helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Croatian forward Mario Hezonja (202-1995) orchestrated the victory by scoring 20 points and 6 rebounds. Ukrainian center Alex Len (213-1993, college: Maryland) contributed with 10 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Brazilian Leonardo Meindl (201-1993) replied with 18 points and 6 rebounds for Burgos SP. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Real Madrid have an impressive 12-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 24-2 record. Newly promoted Burgos SP keeps the fifteenth place with 19 games lost. They share the position with Andorra and Gran Canaria. Real Madrid are looking forward to face Tenerife (#7) at home in the next round where they are favorite. Burgos SP will play against Rio Breogan (#11) and is hoping to prove to their fans that the loss was just an accident.
The game in Malaga was also worth to mention about. Second ranked Valencia (19-6) played at the court of 8th ranked Unicaja (15-11). Valencia managed to secure a 7-point victory 96-89. Dominican point guard Jean Montero (188-2003) scored 29 points to lead the charge for the winners and Brancou Badio chipped in 16 points and 6 assists during the contest. Dominican swingman Chris Duarte (197-1997, college: Oregon) responded with 22 points and 4 assists. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Valencia have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 19-6 record having six points less than leader Real Madrid. Unicaja lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 11 games lost. Valencia will play against Girona (#10) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Unicaja will play against Granada and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Sixteenth-ranked Gran Canaria (7-19) was very close to win a game against fourth ranked Baskonia (19-7) in Vitoria on Sunday. Baskonia managed to secure only two-point victory 88-86. However their fans expected much easier game. Kobi Simmons notched 21 points to lead the effort. Even 18 points by Chimezie Metu did not help to save the game for Gran Canaria. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Baskonia have an impressive five-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Murcia. Gran Canaria lost seventh consecutive game. They dropped to the fifteenth position with 19 games lost. They share it with Andorra and Burgos SP. Baskonia will meet Joventut (#6) in the next round. Gran Canaria will play against Zaragoza (#14) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.

There were no big surprises in other games of round 26: Bilbao was smashed by Barca on the road 90-61. Zaragoza won against Lleida on its own court 107-91. Andorra managed to outperform Rio Breogan in a road game 99-97. Manresa managed to beat Joventut at home 87-77. Bottom-ranked Granada was defeated by Murcia on the opponent's court 107-91. Tenerife beat Girona in a home game 97-94.



Barca - Bilbao 90-61

No shocking result in a game when fifth ranked FC Barcelona (18-8) crushed at home 9th ranked Surne Bilbao (15-12) 90-61 on Sunday. Barca outrebounded Bilbao 38-21 including a 30-19 advantage in defensive rebounds. The former international forward Joel Parra (202-2000) notched 16 points and 8 rebounds to lead the effort and Senegalese-French center Youssoupha Fall (221-1995) supported him with 17 points (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field). Even 16 points (on 6-of-7 shooting from the field) by Slovenian Martin Krampelj (206-1995, college: Creighton) did not help to save the game for Bilbao. Swedish point guard Melwin Pantzar (190-2000) added 6 points and 5 rebounds for the guests. The winner was already known earlier in the game, so both coaches allowed to play the bench players saving starting five for next games. FC Barcelona have a solid three-game winning streak. Barca maintains fifth position with 18-8 record. Bilbao at the other side keeps the ninth place with 12 games lost. Barca will meet Lleida (#13) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Bilbao will play against Manresa (#12) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Barca: F.Youssoupha 17+3reb, P.Joel 16+8reb+3ast, S.Tornike 10+3reb+2ast, C.Will 10+2reb, B.Dario 9+2reb+3ast, H.Willy 8+2reb+2ast
Bilbao: M.Krampelj 16+2reb+1ast, T.Hlinason 7+2reb, J.Jaworski 7, M.Pantzar 6+5reb+3ast, A.Font 5, D.Hilliard 5+2reb+3ast

Zaragoza - Lleida 107-91

We cannot really consider it an upset in the game between close teams when 13th ranked Lleida (9-17) lost on the road to fourteenth ranked Zaragoza (8-18) 107-91 on Saturday. Zaragoza made 23-of-28 free shots (82.1 percent) during the game. American forward Devin Robinson (203-1995, college: Florida) notched 27 points (on 10-of-13 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and Italian point guard Marco Spissu (184-1995) supported him with 18 points and 5 assists. Even 25 points by Canadian-Nigerian forward Melvin Ejim (201-1991, college: Iowa St.) did not help to save the game for Lleida. The former international swingman Oriol Pauli (201-1994) added 15 points and 4 assists for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Zaragoza maintains fourteenth position with 8-18 record. Lleida at the other side keeps the thirteenth place with 17 games lost. Zaragoza will meet Gran Canaria (#17) in the next round. Lleida will play against Barca (#5) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Zaragoza: R.Devin 27+4reb+2ast, S.Marco 18+1reb+5ast, W.Justin 15+4reb+1ast, R.Joaquin 12+2reb, Y.Santiago 10+4reb+2ast, D.Bojan 9+10reb+3ast
Lleida: M.Ejim 25+4reb+2ast, O.Pauli 15+4reb+4ast, D.Atoumane 14+7reb, J.Batemon 10+2reb+2ast, D.Garcia 8+5reb+5ast, J.Shurna 6+2reb+1ast

Baskonia - Gran Canaria 88-86

Sixteenth-ranked Gran Canaria (7-19) was very close to win a game against fourth ranked Baskonia (19-7) in Vitoria on Sunday. Baskonia managed to secure only two-point victory 88-86. However their fans expected much easier game. Baskonia made 25-of-29 free shots (86.2 percent) during the game. Baskonia outrebounded Gran Canaria 39-28 including 30 on the defensive glass. American guard Kobi Simmons (196-1997, college: Arizona) notched 21 points to lead the effort and French swingman Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (198-1995) supported him with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Even 18 points by Nigerian-American power forward Chimezie Metu (208-1997, college: USC) did not help to save the game for Gran Canaria. Argentinian Nicolas Brussino (205-1993) added 13 points and 4 assists for the guests. Four Baskonia and five Gran Canaria players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Baskonia have an impressive five-game winning streak. They moved-up to third place, which they share with Murcia. Gran Canaria lost seventh consecutive game. They dropped to the fifteenth position with 19 games lost. They share it with Andorra and Burgos SP. Baskonia will meet Joventut (#6) in the next round. Gran Canaria will play against Zaragoza (#14) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Baskonia: S.Kobi 21+4reb+3ast, F.Trent 16+4reb+2ast, L.Timothe 14+6reb+2ast, D.Mamadi 13+7reb+1ast, R.Gytis 8+7reb+1ast, O.Eugene 7+2reb
Gran Canaria: C.Metu 18+4reb+1ast, I.Wong 16+1reb+3ast, N.Brussino 13+3reb+4ast, K.Robertson 12+3reb+1ast, M.Tobey 11+3reb+1ast, C.Alocen 7+1reb+1ast

Rio Breogan - Andorra 97-99

There was a surprise result when seventeenth ranked MoraBanc Andorra (7-19) edged on the road higher ranked Breogan Lugo (10-16) 99-97 on Saturday. Andorra made 18-of-20 free shots (90.0 percent) during the game. Canadian guard Aaron Best (193-1992, college: TMU) notched 21 points (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) to lead the effort and American-Guinean point guard Shannon Evans II (185-1994, college: Arizona St.) supported him with 15 points, 6 assists and 4 steals. Even a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds by Serbian Aleksandar Aranitovic (195-1998) did not help to save the game for Rio Breogan. The former international Francis Alonso (191-1996, college: UNCG) added 18 points for the hosts. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Andorra moved-up to fifteenth place, which they share with Burgos SP and Gran Canaria. Rio Breogan at the other side keeps the eleventh position with 16 games lost. They share it with Manresa. Andorra will meet at home higher ranked Murcia (#3) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Rio Breogan will play against Burgos SP (#15) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Andorra: B.Aaron 21+2reb+3ast, M.Justin 17+1reb+1ast, E.Shannon 15+6ast, C.Xavier 13+3reb+3ast, P.Artem 10+5reb, R.Sir'Jabari 8+2reb+3ast
Rio Breogan: M.Andric 18+2reb+1ast, F.Alonso 18+2reb+2ast, D.Mavra 13+3reb+1ast, A.Aranitovic 12+11reb+2ast, D.Russell 11+1reb+5ast, A.Kurucs 7+3reb

Manresa - Joventut 87-77

There was an upset when higher ranked Joventut (16-10) lost on the road to twelfth ranked BAXI Manresa (10-16) 87-77 on Sunday. The former international point guard Ferran Bassas (181-1992) notched 16 points and 8 assists to lead the effort and international forward Alejandro Reyes (202-1993) supported him with 17 points and 6 rebounds. Even 18 points and 7 rebounds by Croatian forward Michael Ruzic (206-2006) did not help to save the game for Joventut. American Cameron Hunt (192-1997, college: Southwestern, KS) added 16 points and 5 assists for the guests. Four Joventut players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Manresa moved-up to eleventh place, which they share with Rio Breogan. Joventut at the other side keeps the sixth position with ten games lost. They share it with Tenerife. Manresa will meet higher ranked Bilbao (#9) on the road in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Joventut will play against Baskonia and will have a slim chance for a victory.
Top scorers:
Manresa: B.Eli 17+2reb+2ast, R.Alejandro 17+6reb+1ast, B.Ferran 16+1reb+8ast, D.David 9+1reb, A.Kaodirichi 7+8reb, O.Pierre 6+8reb+4ast
Joventut: M.Ruzic 18+7reb+1ast, C.Hunt 16+1reb+5ast, L.Hakanson 11+1reb+3ast, R.Rubio 10+7reb+2ast, J.Parker 9+5reb, A.Hanga 8+7reb+3ast

Murcia - Granada 107-91

Everything went according to plan when third ranked UCAM (19-7) defeated bottom-ranked Coviran Granada (3-23) in Murcia 107-91 on Sunday. Murcia looked well-organized offensively handing out 25 assists. American-Slovakian point guard David DeJulius (183-1999, college: Cincinnati) notched a double-double by scoring 31 points and 11 assists to lead the effort and American-Jamaican Devontae Cacok (201-1996, college: UNCW) supported him with 14 points and 9 rebounds. Even 25 points and 7 rebounds by Croatian Luka Bozic (200-1996) did not help to save the game for Granada. Bosnian-Italian Amar Alibegovic (206-1995, college: St.John's) added 20 points for the guests. Five Granada players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. UCAM have an impressive five-game winning streak. Murcia maintains third position with 19-7 record having five points less than leader Real Madrid, which they share with Baskonia. Granada at the other side stay dead last with 23 lost games. Murcia will meet Andorra (#16) on the road in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Granada will play against Unicaja and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Murcia: D.David 31+11ast, C.Devontae 14+9reb+2ast, D.Moussa 10+5reb, F.Wilhelm 9+6reb+2ast, S.Howard 9+1reb+2ast, C.Emanuel 9+3reb+1ast
Granada: L.Bozic 25+7reb+1ast, A.Alibegovic 20+2reb+2ast, J.Perez 13+7reb+3ast, J.Kljajic 10+5reb+2ast, E.Valtonen 10+6reb+1ast, L.Costa 5+1reb+2ast

Burgos SP - Real Madrid 78-94

Liga Endesa top team - Real Madrid (24-2) had no problems winning another game on Sunday. This time they beat fifteenth ranked Burgos (7-19) 94-78. Real Madrid outrebounded Burgos SP 47-31 including a 32-17 advantage in defensive rebounds. Real Madrid looked well-organized offensively handing out 23 assists comparing to just 9 passes made by Burgos SP's players. 25 personal fouls committed by Burgos SP helped opponents get some easy free throw opportunities. Croatian forward Mario Hezonja (202-1995) orchestrated the victory by scoring 20 points and 6 rebounds. Ukrainian center Alex Len (213-1993, college: Maryland) contributed with a double-double by scoring 10 points and 10 rebounds for the winners. Five Real Madrid players scored in double figures. Brazilian Leonardo Meindl (201-1993) replied with 18 points and 6 rebounds and American-North Macedonian center Ethan Happ (208-1996, college: Wisconsin) added 10 points in the effort for Burgos SP. Both coaches used bench players which allowed the starters a little rest for the next games. Real Madrid have an impressive 12-game winning streak. Defending champion maintains first position with 24-2 record. Newly promoted Burgos SP keeps the fifteenth place with 19 games lost. They share the position with Andorra and Gran Canaria. Real Madrid are looking forward to face Tenerife (#7) at home in the next round where they are favorite. Burgos SP will play against Rio Breogan (#11) and is hoping to prove to their fans that the loss was just an accident.
Top scorers:
Real Madrid: H.Mario 20+6reb+2ast, P.Gabriele 15+3reb, O.Chuma 12+6reb, L.Alex 10+10reb+1ast, M.Theo 10+6reb+5ast, L.Trey 6+5reb+4ast
Burgos SP: L.Meindl 18+6reb+1ast, J.Shackelford 10, E.Happ 10+3reb+1ast, R.Neto 8+2reb+3ast, J.Samuels Jr. 8+4reb, H.Max 5+2reb+2ast

Tenerife - Girona 97-94

There was no surprise when 10th ranked Basquet Girona (12-14) was edged on the road by seventh ranked Tenerife (16-10) 97-94 on Saturday. Tenerife made 27-of-35 free shots (77.1 percent) during the game. Brazilian-Italian point guard Marcelinho Huertas (191-1983) notched 21 points and 6 assists to lead the effort and Lithuanian Rokas Giedraitis (200-1992) supported him with 15 points and 7 rebounds. Even 15 points and 9 rebounds by Lithuanian center Martinas Geben (208-1994, college: Notre Dame, agency: LHZ Sport Agency) did not help to save the game for Girona. Montenegrin-American point guard Derek Needham (180-1990, college: Fairfield) added 18 points for the guests. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players in such tough game. Tenerife moved-up to sixth place, which they share with Joventut. Girona at the other side keeps the tenth position with 14 games lost. Tenerife will meet league's leader Real Madrid on the road in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Girona will play against the league's second-placed Valencia (#2) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Tenerife: H.Marcelinho 21+6ast, G.Rokas 15+7reb+2ast, G.Fran 13+2reb+1ast, F.Bruno 10+4ast, F.Jaime 9+2ast, S.Giorgi 7+3reb
Girona: D.Needham 18+3reb+3ast, M.Geben 15+9reb+2ast, S.Martinez 12+6reb, O.Livingston II 11+1reb+4ast, J.Vildoza 9+2reb+3ast, J.Busquets 9+5reb+2ast

Unicaja - Valencia 89-96

The game in Malaga was also worth to mention about. Second ranked Valencia (19-6) played at the court of 8th ranked Unicaja (15-11). Valencia managed to secure a 7-point victory 96-89. Valencia made 18-of-23 charity shots (78.3 percent) during the game. Valencia outrebounded Unicaja 38-26 including 26 on the defensive glass. Dominican point guard Jean Montero (188-2003) scored 29 points to lead the charge for the winners and Senegalese guard Brancou Badio (191-1999) chipped in 16 points and 6 assists during the contest. Dominican swingman Chris Duarte (197-1997, college: Oregon) responded with 22 points and 4 assists and American-Montenegrin point guard Kendrick Perry (183-1992, college: YSU) scored 13 points and 4 assists. Four Unicaja players scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players and allowed the starting five to rest. Valencia have a solid four-game winning streak. They maintain second position with 19-6 record having six points less than leader Real Madrid. Unicaja lost fourth consecutive game. They keep the eighth place with 11 games lost. Valencia will play against Girona (#10) on the road in the next round and are hoping to win another game. Unicaja will play against Granada and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Valencia: M.Jean 29+4reb+3ast, B.Brancou 16+2reb+6ast, R.Nathan 10+4reb, M.Omari 7+3reb, S.Neal 7+6reb+2ast, K.Braxton 7+3reb
Unicaja: C.Duarte 22+4ast, K.Perry 13+1reb+4ast, C.Audige 11+2reb, A.Balcerowski 11+3reb+4ast, K.Tillie 9+4reb, A.Rubit 8+3reb