Madrid get underway with impressive win

Real Madrid picked up a win in their first game of the pre-season campaign, beating Alba Berlin the opening game of the XIV Costa del Sol Tournament (90-65). Our team dominated the clash from start to finish, putting on a positive display in the clash that serves as a warm-up to the Endesa Super Cup. Campazzo led the madridistas to victory (16 points and a PIR of 26), as Okeke and Almansa both made their debuts. New madridista coach, Sergio Scariolo, was in attendance, alongside our basketball sporting director, Sergio Rodríguez.

The madridistas started strongly, with two triples for Campazzo and a Grinvalds basket. Alba Berlin came back to 8-7 through Wood, but our team quickly raced to +14 (21-7; min. 8) thanks to three Bruno Fernando dunks and five Sergi García points. The game continued in the same vein for the rest of the quarter, finishing with a 15-point lead for our boys (27-12; min.10).

Alba Berlin flew out the blocks in the second period, cutting the deficit quickly (29-17; min. 13). The madridistas reacted quickly, though, with Campazzo, Llull and Feliz all finding their range from the perimeter to storm to the biggest difference so far (+20). The Germans hit back once again, this time led by Ellis (7 points) and with 3 minutes left in the first half, they were closer on the scoreboard (44-32). An Almansa triple, a Tavares basket and three Llull free-throws made sure of a significant 52-36 lead at the half.

Madrid manage their advantage well
Delow sunk a triple for the Germans just as the second half got underway. Tavares and Okeke responded, but Ellis added another three immediately afterwards (56-42; min. 24’). That's when Campazzo, with two free-throws, and Fernando stretched the lead back to +18, before Feliz and Bjelic added to the points from the perimeter despite Kayil's triple (65-45; min. 26). Alba Berlin enjoyed another purple patch with 7 successive points to reduce the madridista advantage, but our team closed out the quarter at +21 thanks to some impressive shooting by Campazzo (75-54; min. 30).

Fatigue set in for both teams as the final quarter came around, and the points dried up at either end. With four minutes left to play, the scoreboard read 81-57. In the closing stages, academy graduates Frolov and Asomov got some game time, and joined by Almansa, they managed to hold off the opposition's final push (85-65; min. 38). Madrid ended up taking a 90-65 victory and will now hope to be crowned champion of the XIV Costa del Sol Tournament when they face Unicaja in the showpiece.