ESP/URU – Batista dominates as Fuenlabrada surprise Unicaja Malaga

MALAGA (ACB) - Uruguay's Esteban Batista made a very loud statement of intent on Sunday in his first game of the ACB season to help his new club Fuenlabrada claim an impressive win at Unicaja Malaga.

Batista, 26, who has had some bright moments over the years but has never really seen his career take off, poured in 20 points and hauled in 15 rebounds as Fuenlabrada escaped southern Spain with a 74-71 triumph.

The big man was voted as the ACB's Player of the Week.

Great Britain's rising star Joel Freeland had 17 points on eight of 10 shooting for Unicaja, including a make on his only attempt from behind the arc.

In other games, Ettore Messina coached his first official league game as the boss of Real Madrid and led his team to a 76-56 mauling of Cajasol in Seville.

Cajasol are coached by Joan Plaza, Messina's predecessor at Madrid who left the capital city club after last season.

Shooting guard Rimantas Kaukenas, Madrid's big signing from Montepaschi Siena, had 21 points and his fellow Lithuania international Darjus Lavrinovic contributed 13.

Two of the bright young stars of European basketball who squared off against each other with their respective national teams in the EuroBasket Final this summer took the court for Madrid. Spain's gold-medal winner Sergio Llull played more than 24 minutes and scored 14 while Serbia's Novica Velickovic had four points and four rebounds.

"We are delighted to have played a very good game," said Messina, whose team got thrashed at home last week by the Utah Jazz in an NBA Europe Live clash.

"We are very happy for our fans because we understand that after Thursday's game against Utah, they were a little discouraged."

Real's tough new addition from Caja Laboral (formerly Tau Ceramica), Argentina international Pablo Prigioni, got hurt during the game.

"It is a sprained ankle that apparently is not serious," Messina said.

In other games, Spain guard Juan Carlos Navarro scored 19 points as defending champions Regal Barcelona won 80-63 on Saturday at Xacobeo Blu:Sens.

New Barcelona big man Erazem Lorbek of Slovenia had 15 points and seven rebounds for the winners.

DKV Joventut began life without Spain point guard Ricky Rubio and won 69-67 at Gran Canaria.

The Badalona club sold Rubio to nearby Barcelona in the summer but acquired Clay Tucker, an American guard who caused a real stir after joining Cajasol in February.

Tucker had 24 points, including a six-of-14 effort from behind the arc.

In other games, CB Murcia fell hard at home to Caja Laboral, 88-66, Bizkaia Bilbao Basket defeated Granada 74-63 and Meridiano edged Blancorueda 80-78.

Valencia Basket Club prevailed at home over Estudiantes 80-68 and Suzuki Manresa scraped an 80-77 win over San Sebastián Gipuzkoa Basket Club.

FIBA