Power Electronics Valencia over Real Madrid 81-72

Power Electronics Valencia remained alive for its first-ever Euroleague Final Four by staving off elimination with an 81-72 victory at home over Real Madrid to force a decisive Game 5 in their Quarterfinal Playoffs. Omar Cook collected 16 points, 7 assists and 5 steals to help Valencia knot the series at 2-2, while Dusko Savanovic, Nando De Colo and Robertas Javtokas each scored 12 points and Rafa Martinez added 10. Eight-time champion Real Madrid failed to finish off the all-Spanish affair and book its first Final Four ticket since 1996. Madrid was paced by Ante Tomic with 20 points. Clay Tucker scored 14 points and Pablo Prigioni added 11 points for the Spanish giants. Game 5 will be played in the Spanish capital on Wednesday.

Tomic scored the first basket of the game for Real, but was answered straight away at the other end by Cook with a driving layup. Madrid used some strong passing to open up some outside shooting and both Sergio Llull and Carlos Suarez nailed three-pointers as the guests grabbed a 4-8 advantage. Valencia picked up its defensive pressure, picking up 2 straight steals – the second ending in a fast break layup by Martinez. And then Javtokas came up with a great block on D’Or Fischer at the rim and raced back for a lay-in to complete Valencia’s 5-0 run for an 11-10 lead. Back-to-back scores by Felipe Reyes and Novica Velickovic pushed Madrid back ahead 11-14. But De Colo hit 4 points in a 6-0 close to the first quarter as Valencia led 17-14 after 10 minutes.

Tucker knocked down a jumper to start the second quarter for Madrid. And Tomic converted a three-point play to even the game at 19-19. Valencia continually regained the lead – on a three-point play by Serhiy Lishchuk and a trey by Savanovic. But each time Madrid answered – with triples from Tucker and Nikola Mirotic – to knot the game. Tomic’s baseline jumper made it 29-29 for the fifth tie of the period. Madrid worked hard on defense with Prigioni coming up with a steal and break-away layup and then Tucker hit his third basket of the quarter for a 29-33 Madrid lead – and a timeout from Power Electronics coach Svetislav Pesic. Tucker continued his lights-out quarter with a three-ball from the right wing as Madrid opened a 31-36 lead. Cook, however, came up with back-to-back triples to give Valencia a 37-36 lead. And Martinez nailed three-pointer from the right corner as the hosts went into the break ahead 40-38.

Tomic opened the second half with another inside basket to tie the game again before Prigioni knocked down two triples in giving Madrid a 40-46 lead early in the third. Cook finally got Valencia on the scoreboard after nearly three minutes with 2 foul shots and a jumper by Savanovic trimmed the gap to 2. Llull hit a jumper and a triple as the Madrid cushion was again six points. Javtokas refused to give up for the hosts, hitting three straight baskets – the third a three-point play to bring Valencia within 52-55. Savanovic and Florent Pietrus both hit free throws and then Valencia stole the in-bounds pass and Jeremy Richardson nailed a three-pointer from the left side to give the hosts a 59-55 lead after three quarters.

Javtokas threw down an alley-oop dunk to start the fourth quarter and De Colo picked up on Javtokas’s energy with a tip-in to open a 63-55 advantage. Tomic kept Madrid in the game with 5 of its next 6 points, though Cook set up a Savanovic layup and hit a driving layup of his own to push the margin to 69-60. Tomic twice made 2 free throws to cut the deficit to 7 points and Tucker scored 4 points. But a Cook floater and 2 Martinez foul shots kept Valencia ahead 76-68. The hosts survived 4 straight missed free throws by Javtokas as De Colo made 2 from the foul line and Martinez nailed a huge three-pointer from the left side for an 81-69 lead with 1:30 remaining to finish off Madrid and set up the decisive Game 5.