Defeat against Unicaja in the XII Costa del Sol Tournament

Real Madrid couldn't get the better of Unicaja in their final pre-season game, the second match of the 12th edition of the Costa del Sol Tournament. Chus Mateo's side trailed on the scoreboard but closed the gap at the start of the final quarter after two consecutive three-pointers from Rudy. The Andalusian team, however, was more successful in the crucial moments and took the trophy. The team's top scorer was Hezonja, with 17 points, as they now look ahead to the Super Cup. The Clasico semi-finals this Saturday 6:30pm, #CEST.

 

It was a very positive start for our team: 2-8 courtesy of a three-pointer from Musa and a 2+1 from the Bosnian player. The home team fought back to take a 15-9 lead with 1:15 to go in the first quarter. Four more points for Unicaja and a ten-point lead 19-9 carried them into the second quarter.

It was time to mount a comeback and a 2+1 from Hezonja and a three-pointer from Sergio Rodríguez with 4:20 to go before half-time saw the home side's advantage reduce to 26-19. Unicaja pulled away again to open up a lead of more than ten points: 35-24. Chus Mateo's team scored three more points to reach the halfway point of the game 35-27.

 

The begining of the third quarter saw a reaction from Chus Mateo's team, scoring three points from the free throw line through Hezonja and Musa, a 2+1 from the Bosnian and a dunk from Poirier 40-35. The Frenchman took centre stage with eight consecutive points to close the gap to within three points 45-42. The home side, however, mounted another surge to widen the gap once more.

 

A Sergio Rodríguez three-pointer 56-50 brought the third quarter to an end and two consecutive three-pointers from Rudy opened the final quarter. But Unicaja's best periods came from that point onwards, taking the game by storm and winning the 12th edition of the Costa del Sol Tournament.