Real Madrid and Barça pay the hangover from the Classic against Penya and Manresa

Real Madrid and Barça suffered defeats this Sunday in the ninth round of the Endesa League, falling (80-76) against Joventut and 85-72 against BAXI Manresa, moving away from Unicaja’s leadership.

The hangover from the Euroleague Classic experienced on Thursday at the Palau Blaugrana, where Madrid won after two overtimes, was felt by both giants of Spanish basketball. The whites, despite emerging victorious against their eternal rival, did not arrive on good footing to the tight outcome in Badalona.

From more to less, Chus Mateo’s men saw their streak of five consecutive victories in the Endesa League halted, when they seemed to revive their condition away from home in the Euroleague. Madrid, with the return of Usman Garuba two months after his injury, was better in the first half, where he hit nine triples and did a good job on the rebound, but had no continuity.

Facundo Campazzo, with 19 points and a PIR of 26, was once again the best of a Madrid that has six wins in the League, compared to the eight of the leader Unicaja. Meanwhile, ‘Penya’, within the ‘Top 8’ with four wins in the last five games, relied on Ante Tomic, November’s MVP, and his 14 points, 9 rebounds and 25 efficiency. In addition, Kassius Robertson scored 18 points and Artem Pustovyi was important inside.

In the morning session, Barça entered into crisis within its irregular path with its third consecutive defeat. BAXI Manresa broke a 15-year spell without beating their powerful neighbor at home, trailing the culés from the second quarter 29-16. Dani Pérez (22 points and 22 PIR) led the blow to a Barça that has now won five, the same as those from Manresa.

Meanwhile, Valencia Basket extended Baskonia’s crisis with a beating of the Basques in their Fernando Buesa Arena (91-116). The ‘taronja’ team recorded the third highest score in its history and with up to 10 players in double digits of valuation. Pedro Martínez’s men are placed second while Pablo Laso’s men have three victories, one above relegation.

Furthermore, with a tremendous third quarter (12-29), Dreamland Gran Canaria defeated (63-83) UCAM Murcia, led once again by Nico Brussino (23 rating), a direct duel to settle in the ‘Top 8 ‘ cup holder of an edition of the Spanish basketball festival that will be in Las Palmas from February 13 to 16.

On the other hand, in the duel between newly promoted teams, Leyma Coruña won in extra time (101-106) against Hiopos Lleida. Trey Thompkins (32 points and 36 PIR) and Brandon Taylor, who once again looked like the best passer in the League with 15 assists, in addition to 18 points and 33 PIR, were the best.