Liga Endesa Round 30 (Regular Season): #1 Real Madrid is defeated by Rio Breogan

The games are now more important than at the beginning of the Regular Season. We may still expect few shocking results in upcoming 4 rounds. Here is the last round review presented by Job Market.

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Real Madrid (26-4) at the home court on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by eleventh ranked Breogan Lugo (13-17) 101-97. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Real Madrid. Serbian Aleksandar Aranitovic (195-1998) scored 19 points to lead the charge for the winners and Croatian guard Dominik Mavra (195-1994) chipped in 16 points and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was Ukrainian center Alex Len (213-1993, college: Maryland) with 17 points and 9 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Rio Breogan moved-up to tenth place, which they share with Girona. Defending champion Real Madrid still keeps top position with four games lost. Rio Breogan is looking forward to face Lleida (#13) at home in the next round. Real Madrid will play against Bilbao (#8) and is hoping to win this game.
Important game to mention about took place in Valencia. Fifth ranked Baskonia (21-9) saved a 2-point victory on the road edging 4th ranked Valencia (20-9) 88-86 on Sunday evening. American point guard Trent Forrest (194-1998, college: FSU) notched 15 points (went 11 for 11 at the free throw line !!!) to lead the effort and Mamadi Diakite supported him with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Even 15 points and 7 assists by international Sergio de Larrea (198-2005) did not help to save the game for Valencia. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Baskonia moved-up to third place, which they share with Barca. Valencia lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fifth position with nine games lost. Baskonia will play against league's second-placed Murcia at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Valencia will play against Zaragoza and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Bottom-ranked Coviran Granada managed to get a sixth victory on Saturday night. This time they won against fourteenth-ranked Zaragoza 85-74. The best player for the winners was Luka Bozic who scored 23 points and 6 rebounds. At the other side the best for losing team was Joaquin Rodriguez who recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Granada maintains eighteenth position with 6-24 record. Zaragoza lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourteenth place with 21 games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams. Granada will meet at home higher ranked Barca (#3) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Zaragoza will play against Valencia (#5) and hope to secure a win.

There were no shocking results in the other games in round 30: Burgos SP lost to Barca on the opponent's court 76-91. Lleida managed to outperform Bilbao in a home game 90-81. Manresa recorded a loss to Andorra on the road 104-94. Murcia defeated Girona on its own court 86-75.



Barca - Burgos SP 91-76

Very expected game when 15th ranked Burgos (9-21) was defeated on the road by fourth ranked FC Barcelona (21-9) 91-76 on Saturday. Barca dominated down low during the game scoring 54 of its points in the paint compared to Burgos's 32. Barca outrebounded Burgos SP 43-31 including a 35-21 advantage in defensive rebounds. The best player for the winners was the former international point guard Juan Nunez (192-2004) who scored 14 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists. Senegalese-French center Youssoupha Fall (221-1995) chipped in 16 points and 8 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field). Four FC Barcelona players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was American-Israeli point guard Max Heidegger (191-1997, college: UCSB) who recorded 24 points and American-North Macedonian center Ethan Happ (208-1996, college: Wisconsin) added 11 points and 6 rebounds respectively. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. FC Barcelona have a solid three-game winning streak. Barca moved-up to third place, which they share with Baskonia. Newly promoted Burgos SP dropped to the fourteenth position with 21 games lost. They share it with 3 other teams. Barca will meet bottom-ranked Granada (#18) on the road in the next round which should be an easy win for them. Burgos SP will play against Unicaja (#9) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Barca: P.Kevin 17+1reb+2ast, F.Youssoupha 16+8reb+1ast, N.Juan 14+6reb+6ast, H.Willy 10+10reb, B.Dario 9+1reb+4ast, S.Tornike 8+8reb+5ast
Burgos SP: H.Max 24+3reb+1ast, E.Happ 11+6reb+1ast, R.Neto 10+3ast, L.Meindl 9+6reb+1ast, D.Diez 9+1reb, J.Samuels Jr. 6+6reb+1ast

Zaragoza - Granada 74-85

Bottom-ranked Coviran Granada managed to get a sixth victory on Saturday night. This time they won against fourteenth-ranked Zaragoza 85-74. Granada made 25-of-30 free shots (83.3 percent) during the game, while Zaragoza only scored eight points from the stripe. The best player for the winners was Croatian Luka Bozic (200-1996) who scored 23 points and 6 rebounds. Bosnian-Italian Amar Alibegovic (206-1995, college: St.John's) chipped in 16 points and 5 assists. Four Coviran Granada players scored in double figures. At the other side the best for losing team was Uruguayan forward Joaquin Rodriguez (194-1999) who recorded a double-double by scoring 16 points and 10 rebounds and American forward Devin Robinson (203-1995, college: Florida) added 19 points and 7 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) respectively. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Granada maintains eighteenth position with 6-24 record. Zaragoza lost third consecutive game. They keep the fourteenth place with 21 games lost. They share the position with 3 other teams. Granada will meet at home higher ranked Barca (#3) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Zaragoza will play against Valencia (#5) and hope to secure a win.
Top scorers:
Granada: B.Luka 23+6reb+2ast, A.Amar 16+4reb+5ast, P.Jassel 13+7reb+1ast, V.Elias 10+5reb+1ast, C.Lluis 6+4reb+4ast, R.Jonathan 6+1reb+3ast
Zaragoza: D.Robinson 19+7reb+1ast, J.Rodriguez 16+10reb+2ast, M.Spissu 10+2reb+5ast, S.Yusta 9+2reb+1ast, B.Dubljevic 6+11reb+1ast, F.Jaime 6+3reb+1ast

Lleida - Bilbao 90-81

There was a surprise result when thirteenth ranked Lleida (11-19) defeated at home higher ranked Surne Bilbao (17-14) 90-81 on Sunday. The best player for the winners was American guard James Batemon (185-1997, college: LMU) who scored 20 points and 4 assists (went 10 for 10 at the free throw line !!!). The other American import center Cameron Krutwig (206-1998, college: Loyola, IL) chipped in 12 points. At the other side the best for losing team was Swedish point guard Melwin Pantzar (190-2000) who recorded 18 points and 5 rebounds and Icelandic center Tryggvi Hlinason (215-1997) added 10 points and 10 rebounds respectively. Five Bilbao players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Lleida maintains thirteenth position with 11-19 record. Defending champion Bilbao keeps the eighth place with 14 games lost. Lleida will meet higher ranked Rio Breogan (#11) in the next round and it may be quite challenging game. Bilbao will play against the league's leader Real Madrid where they are definitely not considered as a favorite in this game either.
Top scorers:
Lleida: B.James 20+2reb+4ast, K.Cameron 12+3reb+2ast, A.Diagne 11+5reb, S.Mikel 10, P.Oriol 9+5reb+2ast, A.Caleb 9+5reb+1ast
Bilbao: M.Pantzar 18+5reb+2ast, M.Krampelj 11+3reb+1ast, J.Jaworski 10+4ast, D.Hilliard 10+4reb, L.Petrasek 10+6reb+1ast, T.Hlinason 10+10reb

Andorra - Manresa 104-94

There was an upset when higher ranked BAXI Manresa (12-18) was defeated on the road by seventeenth ranked MoraBanc Andorra (9-21) 104-94 on Sunday. Andorra made 21-of-26 free shots (80.8 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was Ukrainian center Artem Pustovyi (219-1992, agency: Octagon Europe) who scored 27 points and 8 rebounds (on 11-of-14 shooting from the field). American-Guinean point guard Shannon Evans II (185-1994, college: Arizona St.) chipped in 21 points and 5 assists. At the other side the best for losing team was the former international point guard Ferran Bassas (181-1992) who recorded 19 points and 5 assists and Belgian-Nigerian guard Retin Obasohan (191-1993, college: Alabama) added 18 points respectively. Four Manresa players scored in double figures. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Andorra moved-up to fourteenth place, which they share with 3 other teams. Manresa at the other side keeps the twelfth position with 18 games lost. Andorra will meet higher ranked Joventut (#6) in the next round and they do not belong to the favorites in that game. Manresa will play against Girona (#10) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Andorra: P.Artem 27+8reb+2ast, R.Sir'Jabari 22+2ast, E.Shannon 21+2reb+5ast, P.Yves 9+4reb+1ast, B.Aaron 7+2ast, L.Rafael 6+5reb+2ast
Manresa: F.Bassas 19+1reb+5ast, R.Obasohan 18+3reb+3ast, A.Reyes 15+7reb+1ast, A.Ubal 11+2reb+1ast, M.Steinbergs 9+1reb, G.Knudsen 8+8reb+1ast

Murcia - Girona 86-75

Everything went according to plan in Murcia where second ranked UCAM (22-8) beat 10th ranked Basquet Girona (13-17) 86-75 on Saturday. Murcia made 20-of-25 free shots (80.0 percent) during the game. The best player for the winners was American-Montenegrin Jonah Radebaugh (191-1997, college: N.Colorado, agency: Octagon Europe) who scored 20 points. American-Slovakian point guard David DeJulius (183-1999, college: Cincinnati) chipped in 16 points. At the other side the best for losing team was Czech-Canadian center James Karnik (206-1998, college: Boston Coll., agency: Players Group) who recorded 20 points and 7 rebounds and American point guard Otis Livingston II (180-1996, college: GMU) added 16 points and 7 assists respectively. Both coaches allowed to play bench players saving starting five for next games. Murcia maintains second position with 22-8 record having four points less than leader Real Madrid. Girona at the other side keeps the tenth place with 17 games lost. They share the position with Rio Breogan. Murcia will meet Baskonia (#4) in the next round. Girona will play against Manresa (#12) and it may be a tough game between close rivals.
Top scorers:
Murcia: R.Jonah 20+3reb+2ast, D.David 16+4reb+3ast, F.Michael 12+2reb+4ast, H.Jaylen 10+1reb, S.Howard 9+3reb+1ast, C.Emanuel 6+9reb
Girona: J.Karnik 20+7reb, O.Livingston II 16+3reb+7ast, M.Geben 10+5reb, C.Hildreth 8+1reb, D.Needham 8+5reb+2ast, S.Martinez 6+5reb

Real Madrid - Rio Breogan 97-101

The most surprising game was a loss of top-ranked Real Madrid (26-4) at the home court on Sunday night. Hosts were defeated by eleventh ranked Breogan Lugo (13-17) 101-97. It ended at the same time the two-game winning streak of Real Madrid. Serbian Aleksandar Aranitovic (195-1998) scored 19 points to lead the charge for the winners and Croatian guard Dominik Mavra (195-1994) chipped in 16 points and 4 assists during the contest. The best for the losing side was Ukrainian center Alex Len (213-1993, college: Maryland) with 17 points and 9 rebounds (on 7-of-9 shooting from the field) and the former international guard Sergio Llull (190-1987) scored 20 points and 4 assists. Both teams had four players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches used bench players in such tough game. Rio Breogan moved-up to tenth place, which they share with Girona. Defending champion Real Madrid still keeps top position with four games lost. Rio Breogan is looking forward to face Lleida (#13) at home in the next round. Real Madrid will play against Bilbao (#8) and is hoping to win this game.
Top scorers:
Rio Breogan: A.Aleksandar 19+4reb+2ast, M.Dominik 16+2reb+4ast, R.DeWayne 11+1reb+6ast, C.Keandre 10+5reb, B.Danko 10+3reb, A.Mihailo 10+5reb
Real Madrid: S.Llull 20+1reb+4ast, A.Len 17+9reb, M.Hezonja 16+5reb+3ast, T.Lyles 12+2reb+2ast, A.Abalde 7+1reb, A.Feliz 7+4reb+2ast

Valencia - Baskonia 86-88

Important game to mention about took place in Valencia. Fifth ranked Baskonia (21-9) saved a 2-point victory on the road edging 4th ranked Valencia (20-9) 88-86 on Sunday evening. Baskonia made 24-of-28 charity shots (85.7 percent) during the game. Valencia was plagued by 24 personal fouls down the stretch. American point guard Trent Forrest (194-1998, college: FSU) notched 15 points (went 11 for 11 at the free throw line !!!) to lead the effort and Guinean forward Mamadi Diakite (206-1997, college: Virginia, agency: Octagon Europe) supported him with 14 points and 6 rebounds. Even 15 points and 7 assists by international Sergio de Larrea (198-2005) did not help to save the game for Valencia. American-North Macedonian Omari Moore (198-2000, college: SJSU) added 12 points. Both teams had five players each who scored in double figures. Both coaches tested many bench players in such tough game. Baskonia moved-up to third place, which they share with Barca. Valencia lost third consecutive game. They dropped to the fifth position with nine games lost. Baskonia will play against league's second-placed Murcia at home in the next round and it will be for sure the game of the week. Valencia will play against Zaragoza and hopes to get back on the winning track.
Top scorers:
Baskonia: L.Timothe 19+1ast, O.Eugene 17+2reb+2ast, F.Trent 15+4reb+3ast, D.Mamadi 14+6reb+1ast, S.Kobi 11+3reb+1ast, K.Rodions 5+4reb
Valencia: S.de Larrea 15+4reb+7ast, N.Reuvers 15+1reb, O.Moore 12+3reb+3ast, J.Pradilla 10+1ast, N.Sako 10+5reb, K.Taylor 10+3reb