ESP - Real edge Pamesa in Game One Thriller
MADRID (ACB) - Real Madrid won the first game of the ACB play-offs on Thursday night after downing Pamesa Valencia 84-81 in a thrilling quarter-final encounter at the Vistalegre. Madrid, who finished second in the regular-season standings, looked set to slump to a home defeat after Ruben Douglas` successful three-pointer put Pamesa ahead 81-80 in the final minute.
MADRID (ACB) - Real Madrid won the first game of the ACB play-offs on Thursday night after downing Pamesa Valencia 84-81 in a thrilling quarter-final encounter at the Vistalegre.
Madrid, who finished second in the regular-season standings, looked set to slump to a home defeat after Ruben Douglas` successful three-pointer put Pamesa ahead 81-80 in the final minute.
But Louis Bullock downed two free throws to put hosts Madrid back in front, before Kerim Tunceri repeated the feat moments later to give Joan Plaza`s side, who had led by as many as 10 points in the third period, the three-point victory.
Bullock finished as the game`s leading scorer with 17 points, while his fellow American Charles Smith added 16 points, six rebounds and two assists for Madrid.
For Pamesa, Douglas contributed 15 points, five rebounds and two assists to help keep the visitors within touching distance right until the end.
Pamesa will now try to get back on level terms in this best-of-five quarter-final when they host Game Two on Saturday.
The other three quarter-final ties begin on Friday, when Tau Ceramica play Unicaja Malaga, DKV Joventut meet Gran Canaria Grupo Dunas, and Akasvayu Girona travel to Winterthur FC Barcelona.
Mike Perez, Madrid
FIBA