Musa's recital and an unusual comeback that was not: Real Madrid, one step away from the final

Real Madrid is one step away from the ACB final, one win away from ending the brave opposition of Joventut, in a series in which they have had no choice but to wake up and adapt their intensity to what the rival demanded. Because the green and black showed in the first round that they were ready for anything. In Badalona, what seemed like the largest and easiest triumph for the European champion, a lock in defense and a dagger in attack with the talents of Musa, Yabusele and Hezonja, was ruined by local self-esteem and its own relaxation: a Incredible 36-11 run almost led to a historic comeback. [73-83: Narration and Statistics]

Madrid del Olímpic left with a less sweet aftertaste, because even Chus Mateo had to rescue his props from the bench to avoid greater evils. That finish without surrender for Joventut shows the competitive character of a team that even in the abyss did not give up. Because everything that his rival had shown, absolute superiority, was tarnished in a finish line so as not to give everything up yet.

With the current in favor, the offensive class Dzanan Musa (25 points in 23 minutes) is unapproachable. Another thing for him is, for the moment, when the fighting is on the edge. Back from the locker room, with a good advantage carved from his defensive concentration and seriousness and Joventut doubting for the first time, the Bosnian put on his boots. He wounded all colors, chained 10 points only interrupted by a three-pointer from Hanga and definitively shot Real Madrid to its second victory. In the blink of an eye, that Penya, which had caused him so many headaches up to now, was dominated by 30 (37-67).

Tavares, without throwing

Durán had recognized his horrible first part – “we played very badly” -, without a trace of Tomic, who also gave Yabusele an ugly elbow, or Joel Parra. Kyle Guy's points were the only thing to hold on to. And a reaction that was going to come too late. Because Madrid had smelled blood. And that this time he did not have to resort too much to paint as an attacking resource: Tavares did not even have to throw…

In the third quarter it seemed that what was given was over. Joventut had stayed at 43 points and everyone began to think about the next challenge. Especially the visitors. Mateo chose to give rest, but it was the Penya substitutes, with Andrés Feliz at the controls, who did not relax so much. Five were placed with 1:40 to go, although that was as far as the matter.

Another conclusion is that Real Madrid is comfortable at home. He has been demonstrating it in recent weeks. There, far from WiZink, the Eleventh was forged, with those two historic victories in Belgrade and the other two in Kaunas. He also won in Gran Canaria and now in Badalona. In fact, they have not been out since April 16 -Barça in ACB-, nine wins in a row. One more (never in the previous 28 years has anyone come back from 2-1) and they will be in the Endesa League final, in search of the double.