The first meeting was unexpectedly thriling considering good games of Caja Laboral and bad games of Real Madrid in quaterfinal.After (unsuccessful) last attack of Real Madrid the result was 62-60 and the winner was Caja Laboral. Real Madrid players had enough time to set up an attack, but the ultimate solution was Bullok with three points ( who had only one successful shot from 8 attempts for three points). Great was Novica Velickovic with 14 points, but Felipe Reyes, however, was the best with 15 points and 7 rebounds.Real Madrid reiterated his bad side out of line for three points with only 3 of 21 attents.Thats realy bad for a team with high hopes.Good side was defense, which managed to keep Caja Laboral to only 62 points.Missing of Sergio Lulla due to injury with Hansen and Kaukenas certainly reduce the options of coach Messina, but Pablo Prigioni took a job sucesfuuly and organization was good.Ante Tomic had a problem with the decisions of judges who didt go in his benefit, but the status of the star in the ACB can be reached only after many years.
Caja Laboral broke Real Madrid and the game in the third quarter (23-13) when they played an excellent game and went to open fight in fourthqouater.Tiago Splitter was excellent with 14 points, 9 rebounds and 4 asists. Brazilian with big hart Marcelino Huertas also had a good night with scored 12 poena.Good Real Madrid's defense managed to stop Mirza Teletovića to only 6 points.It is simply is amazing fact that Teletović had no attempts for two points (while the three had two successful of 9 attempts ). Brad Oleson is also was good and he had 7 rebounds and 11 points.Carl English did not enter due to injury.
After this uncertain firs game the second match will certainly be more thriling.We could expect that Caja Laboral will play a little bit relaxed and coach of Caja Laboral Dusko Ivanovic will say to players to get rid of the hard questions in semofinal and to play basketball like they used to.Real Madrid showed the face of a strong team after the drama with Cajasol but it is hard to get over the missed chances.