El real Madrid he brought his worst version back to the track to fall into Miribilla, 79-67, and suffer their third consecutive loss in the Endesa League, which greatly complicates the defense of their second place. The whites fell in a match that was a true roller coaster with brutal partials that in the end favored a Bilbao Basket who pursued more and better the victory.
With Miribilla handed over to her coach, it was the big day of lex Mumbr. The applause that he received in the 15th minute, his number, was very moving. Then, after the game, came the tribute and the removal of his shirt. But neither the ovation nor the tribute distracted him from what he had really gone to Miribilla to do: lead his team to victory. To the thirteenth of the season to keep looking up.
With the Madrid opposite, one of his four loves in his career with the Joventut, Bilbao and the national team, Mumbr He was able to understand better than Laso what the game needed. Madrid’s departure was reminiscent of the Clsico, scoring triples and obtaining the first advantages, but it was a mirage and the balance prevailed in the first quarter. From there, the clash was going to fall into the partial game. First the one from Bilbaowhich made it 31-20 with an 11-0, then Madrid responded, with another 0-11 that took the game to 45-41 at the break, thanks to an unlikely triple from Goudelock.
Going through changing rooms felt better in Bilbao, which came out in a rush with Inglis y Masiulis playing his best minutes. The 15-1 partial of the ‘men in black‘ put Madrid against the ropes, 60-42. Paul Laso he called a timeout to try to get his players to react and he succeeded. From the hand of Sergio Llullthe best by the white team, a 0-13 scoreline once again balanced forces, 60-55, thanks to a three-pointer by Llull himself near the end of the third quarter.
The reaction of Madrid gave way to the festival of Bilbao which came out better again at the beginning of the fourth quarter. A 7-0 gave them a good advantage again, 67-55, which Madrid managed to stop: 0-6 with two triples from Llull y Deck. And from there, the whites showed an impressive and very worrying collapse in shooting. The last triple was scored with 7:38 left in the game. In that period until the end, they failed 10 shots from the bow that they were condemned because Bilbao understood much better what the game needed at that time.
It was the great tribute of the ‘Men in Black’ to their coach who from this day is already eternal in Miribilla. Madrid, his victim on this special day, stayed, as a sign of respect, for the final tribute. lex deserved it. And someday, maybe their paths will cross again…
Technical sheet:
79 – Surne Bilbao Basket (22 + 23 + 15 + 19): Rafa Luz (3), Goudelock (14), Walker (8), Masiulis (12) and Delgado (4) -initial five-; Rousselle (11), Hakanson (4), Reyes, Inglis (14) and Withey (9).
67 – Real Madrid (18 + 23 + 14 + 12): Abalde, Causeur (13), Deck (8), Yabusele (3) and Tavares (6) -initial five-; Williams-Goss (2), Llull (22), Taylor (2), Hanga (3), Randolph (7) and Poirier (1).
