Yabusele puts order against Joventut
All the fear was aroused by the lightest type of those present. It was not for less, because, until last night, Kyle Guy's playoffs were a prodigy. So Real Madrid had a few pending tasks for the second match of the semifinals, starting with deactivating the Joventut gunner and continuing with not getting into a good mess again. Against Partizan in the Eurioliga he already showed that not even a 0-2 is impossible, but it is not convenient to call the heroic so much. He did it, not going to Badalona with water up to his neck, although it was not easy for him. [90-73: Narration and Stats]
It was, by contrast, the burliest of all who was decisive.. Gerschon Yabusele, determined to clean up his disciplinary slip-ups sportingly, was the springboard since Real Madrid managed to breathe with relief. He finished with a night to remember: 27 points, eight rebounds, 36 PIR.
Kyle Guy, the 'sniper' who lived with anxiety
Ante Tomic: “Over time you get used to being whistled. Ten years later they continue to do so.”
On notice, Madrid started aggressive and focused. With the French power forward hitting offensively, he soon seemed to open the gap. But the script for the duel on Tuesday was going to be traced. Joventut has reached these heights of the course with confidence through the roof and with nothing to lose. With Guy under control (he finished with only a triple and five points), it was Joel Parra, despite his virulé eye, who led to another green-and-black comeback. And Andrés Feliz, the point guard from Santo Domingo, who, in an astonishing succession of baskets, led Carles Durán's group with an advantage at halftime (36-40) and with the run run from which he does not quite understand what is happening in the WiZink stands.
Madrid had lost control, bewitched by Feliz's rhythm, committing too many losses and disconnections like Hezonja's. Joventut matched the rebound and was not intimidated from the perimeter. Only the power of Yabusele was going to end up making a team already willing to give in to anything.
the chacho
Madrid had no choice but to raise the bar again. He looked for more Tavares, he relied on Yabusele, but he did not end up having control of what was happening. And Penya’s three-pointers were like daggers to the heart of their momentum, as were their constant mistakes. Eight straight points from Ellenson, another unexpected guest to the party, proved another warning (56-59, min. 28).
It took Sergio Rodríguez, with the recovered Poirier on the court and a Hezonja who forgot his bad first act, to take the reins for the final push. A 19-4 partial that began to put downhill a white triumph (much more worked than what the final score indicated) to put some logic to a semifinal in which, despite the defeat, Joventut has shown that it has much to say. The rage of Tomic, who ended up ejected, makes this clear.