ESP - Sensational Splitter carries Caja Laboral past Real Madrid

VITORIA (ACB) – Tiago Splitter demonstrated on Sunday why he fully deserved the honor as the ACB’s MVP this season with a gutsy effort that propelled Caja Laboral to victory over Real Madrid.

The Brazil international had 18 points and nine rebounds as the Vitoria side won the Game 5 semi-final decider, 64-56.

Next up is an ACB finals showdown with Regal Barcelona.

Having led for most of Game 5, Caja Laboral fell behind in the fourth quarter when former Vitoria guard Sergi Vidal struck with a three-ball from the right corner for Madrid.

Splitter responded with a powerful move and basket down low and on Caja Laboral’s next trip down the floor he scored again while drawing a foul from Felipe Reyes.

The center converted the three-point play and Caja Laboral stayed in front the rest of the way.

Splitter’s Brazil teammate, point guard Marcelo Huertas, was instrumental in the victory with 10 points and five rebounds.

Madrid, playing without injured forward Jorge Garbajosa, got 13 points apiece from his fellow Spain national team players Sergio Llull and Felipe Reyes.

Dusko Ivanovic, who won his coaching duel with Madrid’s Ettore Messina, said: “No one believed we’d be second (in the regular season), or that we’d be in the finals, but we succeeded.”

Ivanovic was very gracious to Messina, calling him a “great coach and professional”.

The loss capped a frustrating season for Messina, who moved to Spain from CSKA Moscow last summer.

"It was a close game that was decided by small details in the closing minutes,” he said.

“Although Caja Laboral came out strong at the start, my team deserves a lot of credit for recovering and taking the lead on two occasions. We made more mistakes than they did towards the end.

“It was decided by details like one rebound, one steal and one shot, and we were on the unlucky end."

FIBA