By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
After trailing by double-digits for most of the second half, Unicaja stormed back in crunch time and prevailed, 97-95, over FC Barcelona in overtime.
Winning a do-or-die affair in Jose Maria Martin Carpena Arena on Sunday, the Malaga outfit completed the Semifinals picture of the Liga Endesa Playoffs 2025 and set up a meeting with top-seeded and defending ACB champion Real Madrid. Surviving a best-of-three series in the Quarterfinals, Ibon Navarro’s side overcame a career-high 37 points by Kevin Punter.
Down by nine points with just over one minute left in regulation, the hosts went on a 15-0 run between forcing five extra minutes and building a six-point advantage in the extra period. Back in a tie, Melvin Ejim connected on go-ahead free throws with 5.5 seconds on the clock. Effective defense on the opposite end sealed the deal.
Beyond five straight points to launch the key sprint of 15 consecutive points, Tyson Perez scored all of his 11 points in the fourth quarter and overtime. Kameron Taylor and Kendrick Perry shared a team-high 16 points. Killian Tillie and Yankuba Sima were left out of the lineup.
Besides Nicolas Laprovittola (right knee surgery), Chimezie Metu (right leg surgery), and Juan Nunez (right knee surgery) being ruled out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season by Barca, Jan Vesely (back) also remained sidelined.
ACB Playoffs
Quarterfinals (best of three)
Real Madrid – Baskonia 2-0 (82-76, 112-103)
Unicaja – FC Barcelona 2-1 (97-101, 81-59, 97-95)
Valencia – Dreamland Gran Canaria 2-0 (98-74, 102-94)
La Laguna Tenerife – Joventut Badalona 2-0 (96-81, 80-60)
Semifinals (best of five)
Real Madrid – Unicaja 0-0
Valencia – La Laguna Tenerife 0-0
Finals (best of five)
Real Madrid / Unicaja – Valencia / La Laguna Tenerife