ESP – Gran Canaria win, but lose captain Savane; Ingles leads Barca

MADRID (ACB) - Regal Barcelona and Real Madrid are right now in a two-horse race for first place in Spain's ACB with both sides winning again at the weekend.

Gran Canaria are just hoping to make it to the play-offs and that's going to be a lot harder to do following the loss of captain and Senegal international Sitapha Savane (pictured) for the remainder of the season due to a torn Achilles tendon.

Savane suffered the injury in Gran Canaria's 70-68 win over Caja Laboral on Sunday.

Gran Canaria will on Thursday play hosts Madrid in the Copa del Rey.

The club is also still alive in the Eurocup.

Madrid hosted Bilbao Basket on Saturday night and held on for a 76-72 victory.

The Basque club trailed 16-4 at the start but battled back and closed to within just one point.

Ettore Messina's team did enough at the end to pick up their 17th win in 20 ACB games.

Ingles best Barca game

Barcelona broke open a close game against Power Electronics Valencia on Sunday, winning 85-67.

Australia international Joe Ingles, who joined the club from Granada earlier in the campaign, poured in a game-high 18 points and Juan Carlos Navarro added 17.

Ingles drew praise from Barca coach Xavier Pascual.

"He is a player who is able to help us a lot," Pascual said.

"Today, he had a complete game on defense and in attack. I think he has had his best game since coming here and was solid in every way."

Blancos de Rueda Valladolid continued to have a dream of a season.

They are in third place after a 90-67 rout of Assignia Manresa.

Marcus Slaughter led Valladolid with 15 points and five rebounds.

Unicaja Malaga are showing signs of improvement.

Following their first win in the Euroleague Top 16, Unicaja rolled to a 98-79 triumph over Fuenlabrada.

Great Britain international Joel Freeland tore apart the opponents from Madrid, scoring 23 points on 10 of 13 shooting from the floor, including makes on both of his three-pointers.

Unicaja were in their rhythm behind the arc because as a team, they hit 13 of 21 (62%).

Congolese center Bismack Biyombo continued to be a bright spot for Fuenlabrada.

Playing more than 25 minutes, he had 11 points, six rebounds and and two blocks.

Biyombo also had a couple of slam dunks.

Estudiantes got the better of DKV Joventut, winning at the Badalona outfit 95-86.

Tyrone Ellis finished with 25 points for Estu.

In other games, CAI Zaragoza won at CB Granada 75-66, Cajasol Sevilla prevailed 77-67 at Meridiano Alicante and Lagun Aro GBC win at home over Menorca Basquet 77-72.

FIBA