FIBA Basketball
ESP - Real win makes it tight at the top
MADRID (ACB) - Barcelona have company at the top of Spain's ACB league following their narrow defeat to rivals Real Madrid and wins for Unicaja and TAU Ceramica on Sunday.Barca, who began the day as lone leaders, went down 69-66 to Madrid
MADRID (ACB) - Barcelona have company at the top of Spain's ACB league following their narrow defeat to rivals Real Madrid and wins for Unicaja and TAU Ceramica on Sunday.
Barca, who began the day as lone leaders, went down 69-66 to Madrid, who were paced by 19 points from Igor Rakocevic.
Juan Carlos Navarro's 16 points were in vain for Barcelona, who were three points ahead going into the final quarter but were eventually eclipsed.
Unicaja and TAU join Barca on identical 20-7 records following their respective wins.
Unicaja claimed a narrow 104-99 triumph at Leche Rio Breogan, with Argentina international Walter Herrmann (32) and his American team-mate Marcus Brown (27) starring for the winners.
TAU, meanwhile, were 78-66 winners against Granada. Curtis Borchardt was the stand-out performer for the now joint leaders, pouring in 20 points and grabbing a superb 16 rebounds.
With fourth-placed DKV Joventut busy winning the FIBA EuroCup this weekend, there was a chance for other clubs to make up some ground on them in the table.
Fran Vazquez poured in 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Akasvayu Girona eased to a 79-49 win at Pamesa Valencia.
Vazquez was five of nine from the floor, including one of two from three-point range, and three of four from the line.
He had not scored in double figures since January 29 when he had 13 in Girona's 90-71 triumph at Gran Canaria.
Vazquez needs to find some consistency before the end of the season to make sure he is a part of Spain coach Pepu Hernandez's plans for the FIBA World
Championship in Japan. Sunday's effort is a good start.
Girona are in fifth place with 17 wins and 10 defeats while Pamesa are ninth with a 13-14 mark.
Gran Canaria center Sitapha Savane showed FIBA World Championship-bound Senegal he deserves a chance to make the team by scoring 26 points and grabbing five boards in a 91-73 triumph over Ricoh Manresa.
Marcus Norris also weighed in with 24 points for Gran Canaria, who are level on points with Girona but in sixth place.
Elsewhere, Adecco Estudiantes beat Alta Gestion Fuenlabrada 89-75, Forum Valladolid lost at home to Llanera Menorca 79-75 and Etosa Alicante won 85-70 at Lagun Aro Bilbao Basket.
PA Sport
Barca, who began the day as lone leaders, went down 69-66 to Madrid, who were paced by 19 points from Igor Rakocevic.
Juan Carlos Navarro's 16 points were in vain for Barcelona, who were three points ahead going into the final quarter but were eventually eclipsed.
Unicaja and TAU join Barca on identical 20-7 records following their respective wins.
Unicaja claimed a narrow 104-99 triumph at Leche Rio Breogan, with Argentina international Walter Herrmann (32) and his American team-mate Marcus Brown (27) starring for the winners.
TAU, meanwhile, were 78-66 winners against Granada. Curtis Borchardt was the stand-out performer for the now joint leaders, pouring in 20 points and grabbing a superb 16 rebounds.
With fourth-placed DKV Joventut busy winning the FIBA EuroCup this weekend, there was a chance for other clubs to make up some ground on them in the table.
Fran Vazquez poured in 14 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as Akasvayu Girona eased to a 79-49 win at Pamesa Valencia.
Vazquez was five of nine from the floor, including one of two from three-point range, and three of four from the line.
He had not scored in double figures since January 29 when he had 13 in Girona's 90-71 triumph at Gran Canaria.
Vazquez needs to find some consistency before the end of the season to make sure he is a part of Spain coach Pepu Hernandez's plans for the FIBA World
Championship in Japan. Sunday's effort is a good start.
Girona are in fifth place with 17 wins and 10 defeats while Pamesa are ninth with a 13-14 mark.
Gran Canaria center Sitapha Savane showed FIBA World Championship-bound Senegal he deserves a chance to make the team by scoring 26 points and grabbing five boards in a 91-73 triumph over Ricoh Manresa.
Marcus Norris also weighed in with 24 points for Gran Canaria, who are level on points with Girona but in sixth place.
Elsewhere, Adecco Estudiantes beat Alta Gestion Fuenlabrada 89-75, Forum Valladolid lost at home to Llanera Menorca 79-75 and Etosa Alicante won 85-70 at Lagun Aro Bilbao Basket.
PA Sport