ESP - Title glory for Real Madrid in ULEB Cup

CHARLEROI (ULEB Cup) - Real Madrid's basketball team has been celebrating their first European title in 10 years after downing Lietuvos Rytas to clinch the ULEB Cup title.

Madrid saw off the Lithuanian side 87-75 in front of some 6,000 spectators at the Spiroudome in Charleroi on Tuesday to walk off with the ULEB Cup, the only trophy the basketball team have never won in their illustrious 75-year history.

It was also the first title for new coach Joan Plaza since he took over at Madrid last summer, while the victory helped erase the memory of their defeat in the 2004 final against Israeli side Hapoel Migdal.

Alex Mumbru, the Madrid player who played in both the 2004 final and on Tuesday night, was playing in his home country of Belgium and he said: "I didn't win last time I was here and I really wanted to leave that behind me. It was very important for us to win this trophy."

Madrid, whose last European title was the 1997 Saporta Cup, led 22-18 after the first period but Lietuvos hit back to go into the half-time break one point ahead at 41-40.

The third period was all Madrid though, as the Spanish giants swept their opponents aside 29-17 before ending up clear winners.

Charles Smith paced Madrid with 19 points - including six of eight from three-point range, three rebounds and one assist, while captain Felipe Reyes added 16 points, eight rebounds and one assist.

American Smith was named as the final's MVP for his contribution, but he was keen to share the plaudits around.

"It was a true team effort, although we allowed them to bury 40 points in the first half," he said.

"I was the MVP, but the accolade belongs to all my team-mates. We worked hard and we played the best basketball we could.

"I am very happy."

"This is the first title of my career," added the 31-year-old on his club's website.

"We have been preparing for this moment from the beginning of the season."

The victory means Madrid will be playing in the Euroleague next season, and veteran point guard Louis Bullock has already set his sights on doing well in that competition as well.

"We have achieved one of our great goals and we have gone through to next season's Euroleague. We must make it to the next Final Four," he said.

"I'm happy for my team-mates because this is the first title for some of them. It's always special to win a trophy like this one.

Madrid, who have won eight European Cups, were beaten by Barcelona in the final of the Spanish Copa del Rey in Malaga earlier this year, but they are still in with a great chance of winning the ACB title.

The team is currently top of the standings with a 21-7 record and will be one of the favourites to triumph in the end-of-season play-offs.

Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon, who was in attendance in Charleroi, said: "The players were very hurt when they lost in Malaga, but they were very focused on winning (on Tuesday) and they did it for the fans.

"This team is always excited about playing and they could very well win the ACB League this season too, but now we must simply celebrate winning such a great trophy for everyone associated with Real Madrid."

FIBA