Real Madrid, Barça and Valencia Basket meet on Christmas Day

Real Madrid beat Unicaja (91-82) this Sunday, Barça delivered (66-71) against Surne Bilbao Basket and Valencia Basket defeated MoraBanc Andorra (84-79) on the Christmas Day 12 of the Endesa League.

Sergio Scariolo’s men came back at the Movistar Arena to add their tenth straight victory in the League and maintain the lead alone with 11 wins, after UCAM Murcia the previous day. The whites came back 14 points in the second half with a run of 23-4 in the third quarter, a step forward in physicality and daring that devastated the Malaga paint.

Mario Hezonja (19 points) and Theo Maledon led Madrid’s 37th straight victory at home in the League, with Facundo Campazzo, Edy Tavares and Usman Garuba also playing a great role. The Christmas marathon also started well for Barça, first this season winning in Miribilla, with Willy Hernangómez (19 points and 26 rating) and Tomas Satoransky (16), and high intensity in both defenses.

Xavi Pascual’s men said goodbye to the League for 2025 with their sixth straight victory, the eighth to strengthen their chances of being in the Copa del Rey in Valencia. A goal that the ‘men in black’ continue to aspire to, although there are five teams tied at five wins in the train that pursues the ‘Top 8’.

Valencia Basket itself, third with 9-2, recovered from a bad first half at the Roig Arena to turn around 17 points behind. Pedro Martínez’s men, without their usual success in the triple, surpassed Andorra’s battle with Brancou Badio (22 points) and Jaime Pradilla (23 PIR) as the best.

In the Canary Islands derby, held in La Laguna, ‘Granca’ attacked the neighboring field for the first time since 2019 to also add a fifth hopeful victory to fight for the Copa del Rey. Two wins in a row in one week that restore faith in Jaka Lakovic and a team that dried up those from Tenerife.

Those of Txus Vidorreta, who maintain the top zone in the table (8-4), drowned in 5/27 in triples and the visitors, with not much more success, won in defense and desire with a decisive rush at the beginning of the last quarter (48-60).

Two minutes from the end Laguna Tenerife tied, and the tension reached the personnel line, where the Canarian derby was decided. Bruno Fitipaldo had the last attempt at victory for the Aurinegras, and Giorgi Shermadini and Marcelinho Huertas pulled the local car, although not enough this time. Isaiah Wong, Ziga Sama, Mike Tobey and Braian Angola stood out in the yellows’ celebrated victory.

The day also left Bàsquet Girona’s victory (103-86) against Hiopos Lleida, a direct duel for their fifth of the season. Moncho Fernández’s men showed their strength in Fontajau for the fifth time and with authority, seven players in double-digit ratings. Juan Fernández (22) led a choral performance.