Real Madrid died on the edge of their rebellion, with their heads held high and the rage of those who do not conform to the logic of destiny.

In a fifth in Istanbul that was another challenge to the impossible and in which he flirted with the feat until the very last minute.

Among the many pages to remember this

unique Laso era

, a special mention must be made for this tie against Anadolu Efes.

Because it is in defeat where greatness is most evident.

[88-83: Narration and statistics]

It was a triple from seven meters by Krunoslav Simon, in the last second of possession, unbalanced and with Thompkins on top, which, after almost 100 minutes of battle, ended up surrendering to Real Madrid. As exhausted as Pablo Laso's group was hurt, because he never assumed his absence in the Final Four, despite the omens, even

despite losing the first two games, crushed by more than 20 points

. Until that abyss rode the self-esteem of a team struck by misfortune that rebelled on the basis of epic against a rival of talents.

Before, a Llull tray had escaped from the hoop, but every detail was a life at Sinan Erdem, an afternoon of those that challenge hearts.

The key was

the last appearance of Shane Larkin

, whom Madrid had clouded 35 minutes.

An irrepressible demon.

Or the emergence of Singleton, the man of the match (26 points, eight rebounds ...).

Ta

The only thing missing from the duel was William Munny in the middle of the court saying that "everyone who wants to stay alive had better get out."

And in your duels in the sun, when epic and courage are worth even more than talent or physicality, Real Madrid handles itself as if it could really walk on hot coals.

A shaken bus, thought so many times for dead in this season of ups and downs, was not going to wrinkle now when it caressed the feat.

The one who doubted was the one in front, who had been practically validating his ticket to Cologne for just a few days.

Tavares back

That is why

Carlos Alocén

, who is hard to imagine pronouncing a taco, stood at the Sinan Erdem against Micic and Larkin with an unprecedented self-confidence. That is why Madrid no longer even needed the revolution to stand up to the one who does nothing and looked as if he were an ogre. Since those last minutes of the third game, everything had changed. Thanks to Llull.

The first part was a calculated dance in which

Laso's mutant zone

continued to wreak havoc, although Ataman had new answers. They were Singleton now the reference, although it cost him horrors to score Efes with his usual ease. Larkin did not appear (yet), although that is not a guarantee of anything as it was later proven. A 4-12 run, with six straight points from Thompkins, gave Madrid a boost before the break. The sensations were still white.

But it was already sensed that the duel was headed without remedy towards agony. It couldn't be otherwise in this historic tie. The Efes came back as if his life really depended on it. With the threshold of aggressiveness through the roof, with the immense Micic at the controls.

A 21-4 partial that returned the lost inertia

, which made Madrid tremble. But this wild group has a thousand lives. And Tavares, recovered in extremis for the occasion (he limped a lot), began to be a factor.

Before finishing the third act he had recovered his step, with two triples from Thompkins that were water in the desert.

The final act became one of those insane battles, in which each ball was a heroism.

Larkin appeared and unexpected actors like Pleiss;

It grew to the sky of Istanbul

Laprovittola, with three triples

to freeze hell itself ...

Abalde, another of those who has grown, responded with a triple and a wonderful assist to Tavares in the middle of the drama.

But

the genius of Simon

is one of those that are out of the script.

Madrid died there, although it never escaped defeat so alive.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

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  • Real Madrid

  • Sergio Llull

  • Pablo Laso Biurrún

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