Campazzo avoids a suffocation for Real Madrid

It was a Real Madrid without spark, a Madrid of sweat, of crooked gesture, of getting by. It was a brave, proud, aggressive UCAM Murcia, standing until the end, until Campazzo avoided greater evils for a team that confirms that it goes to the Cup in search of the brilliance and fireworks of not so long ago.. The whites will face off in the semi-finals on Saturday against Valencia Básket (who later eliminated Dreamland Gran Canaria after extra time), but the reconquest they aspire to will undoubtedly require a fuller version at the Martín Carpena. [84-79: Narration and statistics]

More warriors to join the cause, more consistency, more concentration. Because they shined in the first half, as if warning that they were ready for the first party of the year, and they diluted themselves when they shouldn't against a rival with self-respect, which took them to the agony of the end, although not for a second in the entire match, Sito Alonso's team were ahead on the scoreboard.

But with four minutes left, there they were, on the edge of a feat, a comeback to remember when Radovic and his hooks hurt the white zone (71-70). Not long before they had a slab on them (42-27), when they seemed overwhelmed by that herd that looks like Madrid with the open field. In that second quarter, Hezonja on fire, and the hunger to rebuild what was taken away in Badalona by Unicaja and before, twice, by Jasikevicius's Barça. With the Cup that they have not won since 2020 in sight, they seemed like the overwhelming Madrid at the beginning of the season, their wild mechanisms, that dizzying game that Sito Alonso was not able to contain with the hearts of his warriors.

But UCAM is a team with the ardor of its coach. A group that strives, with character, capable of rising despite losing its reference Birgander weeks ago, or not having its starting point guard, Ludde Hakanson, for the tournament. The greats have suffered against him that course and the identification, the project, the red tide arriving from Murcia that enveloped the arrival of his team with hope is increasing.

But the 6-0 start was already a sign. Madrid tried to run even if they couldn't. It is his deadly weapon and almost no one has the kryptonite to nullify it.. Dejan Todorovic, Birgander's replacement back to the ACB from China, tried to push his team, brave against a thick Tavares, blocked Campazzo and 11-11 to start again. But again the stampede, now with Hezonja from the bench, 12 almost consecutive points from the Croatian, as unstoppable as Llull and the triple with which he set the maximum (42-27) and became the all-time top triple scorer in the Cup, dethroning Juan Carlos Navarro. Only a burst of rage from Dylan Ennis, Murcia's offensive reference in the duel, left some uncertainty at half-time.

Murcia had arrests left to not throw in the towel. It is the third cup participation in its history, the second in the last three years. On his return he raised the bar of aggressiveness, he emptied himself in the Carpena, tightening the lines, causing losses, dominating with the offensive rebound (up to 14 stolen, well distributed) and finishing one-on-zero plays, in unusual counterattacks that unnerved Chus Matthew. In addition to two triples from Caupain, Musa's errors, Tavares' laziness, Ennis' momentum…. A 0-9 to get closer (56-53), although Poirier and Llull put some order before entering the final act.

That was going to be a heart attack, worthy of a Cup. The first Murcian approach was solved by a wonderful Llull. And the second, the most dangerous, Campazzo's talent, nine points and an assist in the last three minutes of nerves and mistakes.