Real Madrid Triumphs Over La Laguna Tenerife in Heart-Stopping Supercup Semi-Final
In a thrilling encounter that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Real Madrid emerged victorious against La Laguna Tenerife, clinching a narrow 72-71 win in the semi-finals of the ACB Supercup. This match not only showcased the intensity of Spanish basketball but also marked a significant moment for Real Madrid as they continue their quest for glory.
Key Moments That Defined the Game
The match was particularly noteworthy as it marked the official debut of Sergio Scariolo as head coach for Real Madrid. The game reached its climax in the final seconds when Argentine player Gabriel Deck stepped up to the free-throw line and delivered two crucial shots that sealed the victory for his team. Despite having built a commanding 14-point lead earlier in the game, La Laguna Tenerife found themselves unable to maintain their advantage, ultimately leading to their elimination from the tournament.
With this win, Real Madrid has now secured their eighth consecutive appearance in the Supercup final, where they will face Valencia Basket, who earlier triumphed over Unicaja in the other semi-final match. The anticipation is building as fans eagerly await this showdown between two of Spain’s top basketball teams.
Analyzing Player Performances and Tactical Adjustments
Scariolo, who has now reached his fourth final as a coach for Real Madrid, faced a challenging game that required strategic adjustments throughout. Notably, the absence of new signing Trey Lyles and young power forward Izan Almansa from the squad was felt, yet the team managed to rally together. Key contributions came from Deck, who scored twelve points and achieved a valuation of 19, while Edy Tavares added eight points and seven rebounds to the team’s efforts. Additionally, Andrés Feliz played a pivotal role during crucial moments in the final quarter, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.
The match began with Real Madrid taking a slight lead, finishing the first quarter at 18-17. However, the game quickly escalated into a fiercely contested battle, particularly in the paint, where the matchup between Gio Shermadini and Edy Tavares proved to be a critical factor in the game’s outcome.
Crucial Turning Points and Tension-Filled Finale
La Laguna Tenerife seized the lead with two impressive corner shots from Rokas Giedraitis, pushing the score to 32-36. This prompted Scariolo to make tactical adjustments, bringing in experienced players such as Facundo Campazzo, Alberto Abalde, Deck, and Tavares, alongside David Kramer, who was facing his former team. This strategic move aimed to regain control of the game and counter La Laguna’s momentum.
Throughout the first half, La Laguna maintained a consistent performance, with Marcelinho Huertas effectively orchestrating plays. Shermadini dominated under the basket, finishing with an impressive 23 points, while Giedraitis contributed significantly with a combined 30 points in the first half alone. Despite a challenging second quarter where Real Madrid conceded 28 points, they managed to regroup in the second half, although La Laguna continued to extend their lead, reaching a score of 35-49 early in the third quarter.
Real Madrid’s struggle with shooting accuracy and the defensive prowess of La Laguna were evident, particularly when they squandered an offensive rebound and missed a key three-pointer. Nevertheless, the third quarter ended with Madrid gaining momentum, creating a tense atmosphere for their opponents as they began to close the gap.
As the match approached its conclusion, Madrid’s intensity surged, led by Andrés Feliz, who helped narrow the gap to 60-63. A pivotal three-pointer from Alberto Abalde turned the tide, giving Madrid a 64-63 lead and reigniting their hopes of victory. The final moments were filled with tension as Madrid faced foul trouble, losing Campazzo to disqualification. With the score at 66-69, they rallied back to 72-71, thanks to Deck’s free throws. La Laguna’s Jaime Fernández attempted a last-minute three-pointer that narrowly missed, sealing the fate of the Tenerife team and ensuring Real Madrid’s place in the final.
Match details:
Final Score: 72-71
Real Madrid (18+17+20+17): Campazzo (5), Hezonja (2), Abalde (5), Okeke (2), Tavares (8) -starting five- Kramer (7), Deck (12), Garuba (4), Fernando (3), Maledon (2), Llull (12), Feliz (10).
La Laguna Tenerife (17+28+15+11): Fitipaldo (2), Van Beck (1), Scrubb (1), Doornekamp (2), Kostadinov (7) -starting five- Huertas (14), Shermadini (23), Abromaitis (2), Giedraitis (11), Jaime Fernández (3), Sastre (5), Alderete (0).
Referees: Antonio Conde, Óscar Perea, Andrés Fernández, and Jordi Aliaga. Both Facundo Campazzo and Aaron Doornekamp were disqualified for accumulating fouls.
This semi-final match of the ACB Supercup took place at the Palacio de los Deportes José María Martín Carpena, with an impressive attendance of 8,507 spectators, all of whom witnessed a memorable clash between two formidable teams.
