ESP – Madrid closed down by Valencia in fourth quarter

VALENCIA (ACB) - Power Electronics Valencia held Real Madrid to just five fourth-quarter points and won their ACB clash on Saturday night at La Fonteta.

Getting 14 points from France international Nando De Colo and a great defensive effort, Valencia avenged their Copa del Rey semi-final setback to Madrid by winning, 59-52.

"Real Madrid is averaging 78 points per game in the ACB and got 52 against us," Valencia coach Svetislav Pesic said.

"This is incredible.

"We believed until the last second that all the defenses we play we could solve the attack of Real Madrid."

One player that didn't handle the Valencia pressure well was point guard Sergio Rodriguez, who in seven minutes had four of his team's 22 turnovers.

Fellow Spain international Sergio Llull had four turnovers as well while Clay Tucker had a game-high five.

The result has left Madrid in second place at 17-4 while Valencia are 13-8, the same record as Caja Laboral who won 78-63 at home against Granada (3-18).

Carlos Suarez did shoot the ball well for Madrid, making six of his nine three-balls en route to a game-high 18 points.

While Valencia are 1-3 in the Euroleague Top 16 going to Zalgiris Kaunas (1-3), Madrid are 4-0 and already assured of a quarter-final spot in Europe.

Regal Barcelona are 4-0, too.

They are alone at the top in the ACB at 18-3 after avenging their 71-70 home defeat in October to CAI Zaragoza (9-12).

Playing at Zaragoza, Barca rolled to an 87-67 victory, despite the hosts getting a 26-point eruption from Argentina international Paolo Quinteros.

Bizkaia Bilbao Basket trailed early but hit back for a 93-70 rout of Blancos de Rueda Valladolid.

Bilbao are sixth at 12-9 and Blancos fifth at 13-8.

Fuenlabrada and Cajasol Sevilla clinched wins.

On Saturday night, Mexico international Gustavo Ayon had 19 points and nine rebounds in one of the top performances of the week to lead Fuenlabrada to a 92-81 win over Gran Canaria.

Fuenlabrada are seventh in the ACB at 12-9.

Defeat for Gran Canaria has left the side in 10th place at 10-11.

Cajasol improved to 11-10 and are in eighth place following an 82-77 home triumph over Unicaja Malaga (10-11).

Unicaja, who are 11th, got 18 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks by Great Britain international Joel Freeland.

Meridiano Alicante won 79-70 at Menorca, Assignia Manresa thrashed DKV Joventut 99-67 and Asefa Estudiantes defeated Lagun Aro 88-81 in the other games.

Nik Caner-Medley was Player of the Week in the ACB after pouring in 23 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, handing out three assists.

Manresa occupy the last position of safety at 7-14 - the same record as 15th-place Alicante.

Menorca are 5-16 and in the bottom two.

FIBA