By Eurohoops team / [email protected]
After winning the FIBA Intercontinental Cup, the Spanish Supercup, the Copa del Rey, and the Basketball Champions League, Unicaja entered the ACB Playoffs with high hopes.
Having to go up against Barcelona, however, it was a difficult task for Ibon Navarro’s team. It looked like they could have grabbed a 1-0 lead in the series, but after forcing overtime, the Catalan side managed to escape from Malaga with a crucial 101-97 victory.
On Barcelona, Kevin Punter (21 points and 5 assists) and Jabari Parker (20 points and 5 rebounds) were the crucial protagonists. Justin Anderson couldn’t convert all free throws to win before OT and had 16 points.
Tyson Carter led Unicaja in scoring with 13 points, followed by Kendrick Perry’s 12 points and 10 assists; Tyson Perez had 12 points and 7 rebounds for Unicaja as well.
In the other Game 1 of today’s ACB Quarter-Finals, Real Madrid went up 1-0 against Baskonia thanks to Walter Tavares’ dominant double-double of 16 points and 13 rebounds.
On Monday night, both La Laguna Tenerife – with Marcelinho Huertas’ 39 points – and Valencia Basket went up 1-0, winning at home against Joventut Badalona and Dreamland Gran Canaria.
ACB League Playoffs
Quarter-Finals
G1, La Laguna Tenerife – Joventut Badalona 96-81
G2, Joventut Badalona – La Laguna Tenerife (04/06 at 19:00 CET)
G3*, La Laguna Tenerife – Joventut Badalona (07/06 at 21:15 CET)
G1, Valencia Basket – Dreamland Gran Canaria 98-74
G2, Dreamland Gran Canaria – Valencia Basket (04/06 at 21:15 CET)
G3*, Valencia Basket – Dreamland Gran Canaria (07/06 at 19:00 CET)
G1, Real Madrid – Baskonia 82-76
G2, Baskonia – Real Madrid (06/06 at 21:15 CET)
G3*, Real Madrid – Baskonia (08/06 at 18:30 CET)
G1, Unicaja – Barcelona 97-101 OT
G2, Barcelona – Unicaja (06/06 at 19:00 CET)
G3*, Unicaja – Barcelona (08/06 at 12:30 CET)
*if needed
PHOTO CREDIT: ACB Photo