Real Madrid reach La Liga semi-finals

Real Madrid have just confirmed their place in the semi-finals of the Endesa League. Chus Mateo's men beat Gran Canaria once again, this time away, to make it 2-0 in the quarter-finals. Tavares, with 13 points and 20 PIR, was the most outstanding player for our team, which will face the winner of the Barcelona-Lenovo Tenerife game in the next round. The game started with an exchange of baskets. Triples from Campazzo and Musa and four points from Tavares after two dunks were countered by 8 points from Shurna and 5 from Brussino. The pace was frenetic and the first foul of the game came with 3:35 to go in the first quarter, which was 16-19 with 2:38 to go. Our team, as in the first game of the series, went straight for the jugular in the transition play and that led to two more points from Tavares and Musa (16-23). The first quarter ended with two more points per team, the first from Llull for the visitors (18-25).

Seven up before the start of the second quarter, in which Llull's eight consecutive points were answered by Bassas, Salvó and Happ (28-33). The home side reacted and were just one basket behind after Brussino's three free throws. Chus Mateo's time-out cooled Gran Canaria's scoring and allowed them to extend the lead to nine points (31-40 with 1:16 to go). A Campazzo three-pointer, LaLiga MVP, gave Real Madrid a huge gap to go into half-time at 33-43.

The home side started the third quarter with more accurate shooting and were much more aggressive in defence. They reduced the gap to four points (43-47 with 5:50 remaining). Chus Mateo's side went ten points up again with a three-pointer from Musa followed by another from Abalde, but Brussino and Shurna replied quickly (56-57). Despite losing this run, Madrid closed the third quarter two up (58-60).

The last quarter proved decisive
Everything was to be decided in the last ten minutes, which began with a three-pointer from Hezonja and four consecutive points from the home side. One away, which became six thanks to Sergio Rodríguez and Rudy's three-pointer (62-68). Both teams exchanged baskets and went into the final minute with a two-point lead for Real Madrid (71-73 with 50 seconds to play). Neither team scored any more and the game at the Gran Canaria Arena was settled in favour of the European champions, who are now turning their attention to the Final Four in Berlin, which kicks off on 24 May.