Tenacity as a hallmark, the obligation to never fail, to compete no matter what and against whoever.

Real Madrid will play its eighth consecutive Cup final this Sunday, it will seek the 21st title of the Laso era, because it knew how to suffer against Lenovo Tenerife.

He knew how to survive one of those not so bright days, a dense battle in which he had to row against the current.

But if anyone knows how to win, that is Sergio Llull.

[85-79: Narration and statistics]

It was the Spaniard who best understood the problem that Tenerife, a rival gentleman, had raised on the track of the Palace.

The one who took the reins, as a basis, to stand up to two demons like Huertas and Fitipaldo, the one who allied with Causeur and Deck to solve the ballot when those of Txus Vidorreta threatened to surprise.

They no longer give him his lungs or his legs for 40 minutes of maximum demand.

But Llull is still there to win so many games.

His assistance from behind to Thompkins to close the match while the sun was still hot, was the culmination of his wonderful afternoon.

Because Madrid had encountered an arduous task: Tenerife was not going to wrinkle.

He is getting used to the heights, losing his vertigo.

It was his third cup semifinal in four years.

It ceased to be a surprise long ago to be feared.

He woke up with the very clear plan, with the "30 and the mother" of Txus Vidorreta now on his own bench, to which the Basque coach demanded noise, aware that in these battles everything counts.

Very high success of both to begin with, with the Shermadini-Huertas duo as plan B and the first Canary advantages (11-19), mainly thanks to the solidity of their defense, which only Causeur seemed capable of hurting.

Until the white collapse arrived, a partial of 1-12 (20-32, min. 13) at the beginning of the second round, while Laso shook his head without finding a solution to the sudoku game planned by the rival.

Things were going to get worse for Madrid.

Until we hit rock bottom.

Even the guttural scream of Pablo Laso that resounded in the WiZink.

"Okay!"

That it was going for the referees - evidently, they pointed to technique - but their players could apply it well.

The fact is that from that abyss (22-40), Madrid emerged, with Llull's rage, well accompanied by Deck and the, now, coral defensive effort, which even Carroll put a stopper.

A last triple by Causeur left the 40-46 that avoided greater evils and blurred the excellent exercise of Tenerife in the first half.

Real Madrid had taken note of the black and white warning.

I was going to have to sweat blood if I wanted to be in the final on Sunday.

He was going to need the more dominant Tavares and the perimeter points that came from Causeur and Carroll.

And, at the same time, not stop watching Huertas and Fitipaldo, that pair of bases capable of making a mess for you in a moment.

He did it with competitive perseverance.

He hit a 13-0 run, penalizing Tenerife's losses, which put him ahead for the first time.

The extraordinary white defensive reaction, commanded by Llull as director, helped him to reach an even outcome, although now the feelings were on his side.

And the doubts of Tenerife.

That he survived with the display of the eternal Marcelinho Huertas (22 points, five assists ...), with the brave Fran Guerra colliding with Tavares in the paint ... but it was difficult for him to keep up.

And if there had been a total player in the afternoon at the Palace, it was Fabien Causeur.

One of those wardrobe treasures from Pablo Laso.

Always ready, to take the reins or to be the last in the rotation.

This time it was the Frenchman, along with Deck, the most lucid guy in attack, the one who always replied.

Tenerife tried one last show (81-77 in the absence of just over a minute), but the pass through Llull's back was his shot.

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Know more

  • Sergio Llull

  • Real Madrid

  • Madrid

  • Pablo Laso Biurrún

  • Lenovo

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