ESP – Tau stay on a roll; Barcelona alone in second place

VITORIA (ACB) - Tau Cerámica stayed three wins clear at the top of the ACB standings after beating ViveMenorca while Regal Barcelona moved into sole possession of second place.

Tau prevailed for the 16th time in 17 games, rolling to a 78-66 victory over ViveMenorca on Sunday in Vitoria.

The defending Spanish champions trailed 23-21 at the end of the first quarter but outscored Menorca 27-11 over the next 10 minutes to take command for good.

Igor Rakocevic had 21 points, including nine makes on his 10 free-throw attempts, and Brazil center Tiago Splitter scored 15.

Barcelona defeated DKV Joventut on Saturday in Badalona, 68-64.

Spain's Juan Carlos Navarro buried four of seven shots from long range on his way to 18 points for Barcelona (13-4).

DKV Joventut, who last week missed out on a place in the Euroleague Top 16, dropped to 12-5 in the ACB.

Unicaja Malaga clinched first place in their regular-season group last week in the Euroleague with a big victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv but they slumped to a 90-78 defeat at Real Madrid on Sunday.

Madrid's Louis Bullock made four three-balls and led all scorers with 25 points.

Great Britain's Robert Archibald poured in 15 and pulled down seven rebounds in defeat for Unicaja.

The result has left both teams alongside DKV at 12-5.

Pamesa Valencia are in seventh place at 10-7 following an 81-72 triumph at La Fonteta over CAI Zaragoza, who are just one place above the relegation zone.

Ricoh Manresa (9-8) are eighth after a 71-64 success at Cajasol Sevilla (2-15).

In the Basque country, iurbentia Bilbao thrashed MMT Estudiantes 99-65.

Estu, ViveMenorca and CAI Zaragoza are each 5-12.

In other games, Granada claimed an 87-80 win at Bruesa and Fuenlabrada prevailed 78-70 at CB Murcia.

FIBA