Lucas Sáez-BravoSpecial envoy Málaga
Special envoy Malaga
Updated Saturday, February 17, 2024-20:04
There are times when playing against Real Madrid is like trying to contain a herd. There is always a bison that jumps the fence, that escapes from the cowboy, that charges towards the hoop. When the moment of truth arrived, with the first trophy in sight (and with the burning lesson of the lost semi-final a year ago in Badalona against Unicaja), the doubts and confusion were over. It is not the first time it has happened, the fang in time. With all its troops ready, the same Valencia Basket that finished off Gran Canaria on Thursday and with which it has already had some scares even this season (extension in WiZink), was badly overwhelmed by Chus Mateo's team
,
a beating at times embarrassing when everything broke right after the break. [95-76: Narration and statistics]
A rival (either Barcelona or Lenovo Tenerife) awaits this Sunday at the Martín Carpena, where they won their last Cup in 2020, which will be their tenth final in the last 11 years. The whites come to it full of confidence after an exercise of total superiority against
Alex Mumbrú
's Valencia
, who was sent off too early in the afternoon. In a fatal succession of events that were going to leave him with zero possibilities. In reality, the stampede came due to their own error. When
Xabi López Aróstegui
incomprehensibly failed a mate completely alone with the taronjas getting closer than ever. After that and despite half-time being in the middle, Madrid's partial score was 35-11...
As in Thursday's quarterfinal match, Real Madrid, familiar with the terrain, woke up with full throttle. He didn't even flinch with Brandon Davies' first two triples, in a mission to separate Tavares from the zone. But the first dilemma was soon orange. The former Zalgiris and Barça player, the only healthy 'five' in the Mumbrú squad - he arrived limpingly at the Cup, Boubacar Touré did not even travel -, always so successful against the whites from the perimeter, was charged with two fouls in just over one minute and his team found out in an alley. Unfocused and nervous, he conceded 16-0 in the blink of an eye, a real burden.
It was Mumbrú's turn to turn everything around and to his credit continue competing against the first avalanche. Because Madrid takes no prisoners. Ojeleye and a 0-7 before the end of the first act gave him encouragement. Even closer soon, with the aggressiveness of Justin Anderson and a 2-10 made up for those deadly blasts from Llull. As if time were his ally, the Balearic player scored eight consecutive points in a duel that seemed frantic.
Brandon Davies returned (the dominance of the rebound was already clearly white) and it was Valencia's turn to start again. But, despite the center's third triple (he was going to finish with five), he was soon returned to the bench, also his third foul. Although the play that was going to best summarize everything that happened was going to come right at the end. After a triple by López Aróstegui, the Basque forward stole a ball on the front line and prepared to hammer it alone, on the run. But something didn't go right, he missed miserably and in the chaos that followed, Dzanan Musa scored and was fouled. A five-point play for Madrid. He then took advantage of a brief physical mishap by Chris Jones to close with a triple released by Hezonja. A punishment at one of those key moments. Because, of course, on the way back, a two plus one from Campazzo and 51-39...
And Yabusele joining the party and a Valencia locked in the ropes receiving blows like a breathless boxer. Deck, Campazzo, Poirier and a lead that was close to thirty before the end of the third act (77-50). Knockout.
But Mumbrú did not throw in the towel, despite the obvious. Valencia left the Cup with its head held high, clearly winning the last set and even unleashing a small schism in its rival. After a few minutes of confusion and Chus Mateo's timeout, Llull shouted at Hezonja (it was heard throughout Carpena...), that he did not return to the track and that he showed obvious anger. It is true that the captain and the Croatian resolved it later in a talk.
The best Tavares was not needed, nor the participation of Causeur or Abalde. A hero was not necessary either. It was an excellent collective effort, that intensity that Mateo longs for, the fireworks from a few weeks ago. And it was also a warning to everyone: Real Madrid wants to win back the Cup.