By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Spain will have a new champion, as Real Madrid eliminated last year’s winners, Barcelona, in the ACB Semifinals.
Chus Mateo’s side actually swept the defending champs 3-0, claiming the spot in the final with a 92-95 Game 3 victory.
Facundo Campazzo played a pivotal role in the end, finishing the game with 21 points and six assists, shooting an impressive 9/9 from the free-throw line.
Dzanan Musa added 14 points and seven assists, Walter Tavares scored 13 with five boards, while Vincent Poirier followed with 12 points. Guerschon Yabusele also finished in double digits with 11 points, grabbing five rebounds and dishing out four assists.
Jabari Parker shined for Barcelona, but his 27 points and six rebounds weren’t enough to avoid elimination. Willy Hernangomez also had a good game with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Tomas Satoransky added 12 points.
Barcelona played without Nikola Kalinic. Oriol Pauli took his place on the team, while Jan Vesely was ejected in the second quarter.
Real Madrid will play for the title against Murcia or Unicaja. Murcia leads 2-1 before Game 4 at their home court.
ACB Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best-of-three)
A – Unicaja – BAXI Manresa 2-0 (87-79, 86-63)
B – Valencia – UCAM Murcia 1-2 (86-96, 83-72, 77-84)
C – Real Madrid – Dreamland Gran Canaria 2-0 (105-70, 73-71)
D – FC Barcelona – Lenovo Tenerife 2-0 (96-86, 97-92)
Semifinals (best-of-five)
Unicaja – UCAM Murcia 1-2 (79-88, 83-101, 74-66)
Real Madrid – FC Barcelona 3-0 (97-78, 104-98, 95-92)
Finals (best-of-five)
Real Madrid – Unicaja/Murcia