By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Sergio Llull scored a 16 points team-high plus the go-ahead jumper with one second remaining as Real Madrid won the Spanish “Clasico” vs Barcelona 76 – 75.
Ante Tomic, the top performer of the guests with 14 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists, had previously scored consecutive hook shots from the low post to put the lead in Blaugrana hands twice. But his efforts were all for naught, since Llull showed for one more time how strong is the clutch gene he carries.
The 29-year-οld Madridista was also his team’s top passer with 7 assists, while Jaycee Carroll scored 14 points and Anthony Randolph 9. Captain Felipe Reyes also reached a milestone, becoming the top rebounder of all times in the Spanish league. For Barcelona, Stratos Perperoglou paced his teammates in scoring with 16.
After this result, the defending champions climbed at the second place at the standings, where they find themselves tied with Valencia at a 16 – 6 record. With 15 victories in 22 games, Barcelona is fifth in the table, same as Unicaja Malaga.
What was the surprise of the week in Liga Endesa arguably took place in Manresa. The last in the standings (4-19) local team clinched just its fourth win of the season by outplaying Baskonia (16-7) that arrived into that match from a EuroLeague road win over Fenerbahce.
Liga Endesa 2016/2017 – Week 24
Valencia – Fuenlabrada 101 – 86 (Bojan Dubljevic 17 p. 7 r. 2 bl.)
Zaragoza – Obradoiro 85 – 59 (Robin Benzig 25 p. 5 r.)
Estudiantes – Iberostar Tenerife 63 – 82 (Tariq Kirksay 16 p. 7 r.)
Murcia – Andorra 77 – 53 (Facu Campazzo 15 p. 5 a. 4 r.)
Manresa – Baskonia 87 – 82 (Pere Tomas 14 p. 8 r.)
Real Betis – Gran Canaria 70 – 89 (Royce O’ Neale 12 p. 6 r.)
Unicaja Malaga – Joventut Badalona 77 – 74 (Jeff Brooks 11 p. 9 r.)
Real Madrid – Barcelona 76 – 75 (Sergio Llull 16 p. 6 a.)