ESP - Estu in a stew

MADRID (ACB) - Estudiantes slumped to their fourth defeat of the season after succumbing 78-67 at lowly Lagun Aro Bilbao Basket.

Estu had a 6-3 record going into Sunday’s match while Lagun Aro had the exact opposite, having won three of their nine matches and losing the other six.

But the home side upset the form book thanks largely to three players - Martin Rancik, Lucas Recker and Frederic Weis.

Rancik led all scorers with 22 points as well as pulling down six rebounds, Recker added 19 points, while Frenchman Weis contributed 10 points and 13 boards.

For Estu, who meet CSU Asesoft Ploiesti in the EuroCup on Tuesday, Will McDonald scored a team-high 12 points and eight rebounds in a losing cause, while Hernan Jasen added 11 points, nine rebounds and two assists.

Akasvayu Girona are also in EuroCup action this week, and they warmed up for Wednesday’s trip to Lithuanian side BC Siauliai with an 80-73 victory over Polaris World CB Murcia.

FIBA World Championship winner Marc Gasol paced Akasvayu with a perfect shooting display, downing all 13 of his shots on the night for a match-high 19 points.

Gasol also pulled down five rebounds, while his team-mate Arriel McDonald added 16 points, three boards and two assists as fourth-placed Akasvayu moved onto 7-3 for the season.

Defending champions Unicaja Malaga missed the chance to leap-frog Estudiantes as they slumped to a 64-58 defeat at home to Pamesa Valencia.

Valencia controlled the match throughout and led 47-33 heading into the final period before Unicaja managed to restore some credibility to the scoreline.

DKV Joventut are now fifth, level on 6-4 records with Estu and Alta Gestion Fuenlabrada, after humbling Etosa Alicante 84-64, while in Sunday’s other game Bruesa GBC beat CB Granada 77-59 with Txemi Urtasun pouring in 24 points for the victors.

PA Sport