ESP – Batista off to winning start with Caja Laboral

SAN SEBASTIAN (ACB) – Caja Laboral are expecting big things from Uruguay international Esteban Batista after acquiring him in a transfer from Fuenlabrada.

The big man tasted victory on his debut with 10 points and four rebounds in a 83-80 triumph at Lagun Aro GBC in San Sebastian.

Batista played 20 minutes in the Basque derby as Caja Laboral improved to 10-5 and remained two games behind Regal Barcelona and Real Madrid (both 12-3).

Barca had won at Unicaja Malaga on Saturday night, 70-53, and a hot-shooting Madrid prevailed at home on Sunday over Menorca Basquet, 95-84.

In Real's victory, the club hit 15 of 21 (71%) shots from three-point range.

Carlos Suarez and Sergio Llull each poured in 18 points for Madrid.

Llull was four of six from behind the arc and both Suarez and Clay Tucker were three of three.

While Llull has spent the past two summers playing for Spain, which included a gold-medal success at EuroBasket 2009, Suarez has yet to make the senior squad for a major tournament.

Meanwhile, In Barcelona's triumph, Spain's Juan Carlos Navarro was at his best, hitting five of 11 shots from long range and finishing with 25 points.

Barcelona’s recent signing Alan Anderson sprained his right ankle again, however, at the end of the game and will receive treatment for the injury and should be able to face Menorca Basquet in the club’s next game.

Caja Laboral's win allowed them to stay ahead of red-hot Power Electronics Valencia, who prevailed for the eighth consecutive time in Spain's ACB with an 82-77 victory at Manresa.

Rafa Martinez poured in 20 points and France international Nando De Colo 19 for Valencia, who are 9-6.

"We entered the game with intensity and concentration because we knew that here, Manresa had won four consecutive games,” Valencia coach Svetislav Pesic said.

“We have to improve on turnovers, but we are happy and must congratulate our players. We have a good atmosphere and the team is training well and looking at the next game.”

Blancos Rueda Valladolid edged Cajasol Sevilla 70-68 and DKV Joventut hammered visiting Fuenlabrada, 100-86.

Valladolid, DKV and Fuenlabrada also have 9-6 records.

Croatia international Marko Banic fired Bizkaia Basket Bilbao to a 66-57 win over Asefa Estudiantes.

Banic had 20 points as Bilbao stayed in the hunt for a spot in the eight-team Copa del Rey.

They are in eighth place and Gran Canaria (also 8-7) are ninth following their 86-71 victory over Granada on Sunday night.

Jaycee Carroll had 21 points for the Canary Islanders.

FIBA