ESP - Rudy, DKV Joventut profit from late Tau collapse
MADRID (ACB) - Tau Ceramica failed to take advantage of leaders Real Madrid’s slip-up on Saturday as they lost 79-67 at fifth-placed DKV Joventut. Tau, who could have drawn level with Real on 19-5 records if they had won on Sunday, looked to be cruising as they opened up a 23-13 lead after the first period. But hosts DKV battled back superbly in the second period, before staging a brilliant late charge which saw them outscore Tau 26-9 in the final quarter to take the win.
MADRID (ACB) - Tau Ceramica failed to take advantage of leaders Real Madrid’s slip-up on Saturday as they lost 79-67 at fifth-placed DKV Joventut.
Tau, who could have drawn level with Real on 19-5 records if they had won on Sunday, looked to be cruising as they opened up a 23-13 lead after the first period.
But hosts DKV battled back superbly in the second period, before staging a brilliant late charge which saw them outscore Tau 26-9 in the final quarter to take the win.
Spain national team star Rudy Fernandez paced DKV with 20 points, five rebounds and four assists and he was supported by Elmer Bennett (17 pts) and Robert Archibald (15 pts, 6 rbs).
Tau, now under the guidance of Bozidar Maljkovic as the permanent replacement for Velimir Perasovic, got 15 points and seven boards from Argentinian international Luis Scola.
Defending Spanish champions Unicaja Malaga consolidated their place in the top six with a 96-73 win over CB Granada, while Alta Gestion Fuenlabrada saw off Polaris World CB Murcia 98-80 at home despite a 24-point haul from Marcus Fizer for the visitors.
Bottom club ViveMenorca claimed only their seventh win of the season as they stunned Pamesa Valencia 100-89, with Marino Bazdaric (20 points), Mario Stojic, Sasa Vasiljevic (both 18 points) and Chris Moss (17 points and seven rebounds) all contributing to the victory.
Estudiantes came out on top in the battle of Spain’s two EuroCup participants on Sunday as they downed Akasvayu Girona 84-79.
Estu, whose run of 10 defeats in 11 league games cost coach Pedro Martinez his job in February, can hardly put a foot wrong now.
They booked their place in the Final Four of the EuroCup with a 2-0 series win over Dynamo Moscow Region this week, and they continued that fine form with a hard-fought ACB victory at Akasvayu.
Estu are now 10th in the ACB standings with a 11-13 record, five games behind third-placed Akasvayu.
Iker Iturbe led the Madrid-based side with 19 points - including five of seven from three-point range - while Hernan Jasen added 14 points, four rebounds and three assists.
For Akasvayu, who are level at 1-1 in their EuroCup quarter-final tie against Panionios BC and face a third-match decider on Wednesday, Dainius Salenga top-scored with 14 points while Marc Gasol contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds.
In other games, Aro Bilbao Basket defeated second-bottom Grupo Capitol Valladolid 71-64, and Bruesa GBC saw off Etosa Alicante 81-64.
Mike Perez, Madrid
FIBA