ESP - Mickael saves the day For Tau Ceramica in Copa del Rey triumph over Unicaja

MADRID (Copa del Rey) - Peter Mickael hit a go-ahead jumper and then blocked a potential game-winning three-pointer from Spain's Berni Rodriguez as Tau Ceramica scraped a 100-98 overtime triumph against Unicaja Malaga to win the Copa del Rey.

Mickael finished with 20 points on Sunday night, the same as Tau's excellent Mirza Teletovic who drilled six three-balls and was voted MVP of the Copa.

The Bosnia and Herzegovina international averaged more than 13 points and six rebounds per game in the tournament.

Tau's Brazil international Tiago Splitter had 12 points and six rebounds and spoke on the court immediately after the game about his younger sister Michelle who recently died after a long battle with leukemia.

"I dedicate this to my parents, who are here, and to my sister who is in heaven," Splitter said.

Tau almost endured a huge disappointment when club captain Sergi Vidal missed his team's first two free throws of the game with only 18 seconds remaining and the Vitoria outfit leading 87-85.

Unicaja went to the other end and France international Joseph Gomis drove towards the basket from the right and scored to tie the contest and was also fouled by Splitter.

Splitter left the game with his fifth foul of the contest but Gomis, with Unicaja having made 29 of their previous 32 free throws, missed from the charity stripe and Tau rebounded with 11 seconds left.

Tau had a chance to win but Teletovic threw up an air ball from behind the arc and the game went to overtime.

Once in the extra period, Tau went on top 98-95 inside the final minute but Marcus Haislip, who had missed from long range on Unicaja's previous trip down the floor, pulled up at the top of the key and connected to level the score at 98-98.

Haislip finished with a game-high 23 points.

Mickael, despite being closely guarded by Rodriguez, made a shot from 10 feet to put Tau back in front with 15 seconds to go.

Unicaja took the ball up the floor and Robert Archibald caught the ball in the lane with a few seconds remaining.

The Great Britain international passed it out to Rodriguez but the Spain national team marksman had his three-point attempt blocked by Mickael and time expired.

Mickael joined Teletovic on 20 points and Igor Rakocevic, who fouled out at the start of overtime, had 18.

Gomis and Archibald each had 16 points, Boniface Ndong 13 and Omar Cook nine with four assists for Unicaja.

Tau were denied Copa del Rey glory by DKV in the final last year in Vitoria so they were ecstatic on Sunday. Argentina playmaker Pablo Prigioni, a bronze-medal winner at last summer's Olympics, celebrated by being hoisted up to the rim by teammate Will McDonald to cut down the net.

Dusko Ivanovic, the Tau Ceramica coach, also celebrated the title with a huge grin on his face and for very good reason.

A long-time coach in Vitoria, he left the club in 2005 to lead Barcelona but was fired in the middle of last season before being handed the Tau reins again in the summer.

FIBA