Real Madrid beat Bauru to win Intercontinental Cup
IBIRAPUERA (2015 FIBA Intercontinental Cup) - Real Madrid defeated Bauru 91-79 on Sunday afternoon in Sao Paulo to win the Intercontinental Cup. Having blown a 17-point lead on Friday in the first game
IBIRAPUERA (2015 FIBA Intercontinental Cup) - Real Madrid defeated Bauru 91-79 on Sunday afternoon in Sao Paulo to win the Intercontinental Cup.
Having blown a 17-point lead on Friday in the first game between the sides and lost by one, last season's Euroleague champions bounced back to add more hardware to their trophy cabinet with an 11-point triumph on aggregate.
Real Madrid Basketball is the first team to win 5 championships within 365 days. #HaIaMadrid pic.twitter.com/XOMzYwcQV0
— Real Madrid Info (@RMadridInfo) September 27, 2015
Sunday's game did not come without some adversity.
Real point guard Sergio Rodriguez, just one week ago named to the All-Star Five at EuroBasket 2015 after helping Spain capture the title, was ejected in the first half after picking up a couple of technicals.
In the third quarter, Real were in a real dogfight.
A pair of Rafael Hettsheimer free-throws knotted the contest at 53-53 and the Ricardo Fischer made two more to tie the game at 55-55.
We're going to enjoy this, but next week we have the Spanish Supercup - Carroll
The Pablo Laso-coached Real squad then started to put some distance between themselves and Bauru, the 2015 DIRECTV Liga de las Americas champions.
Trey Thompkins scored and Sergio Llull followed with a pair of free-throws before Gustavo Ayon added a basket for a 61-55 Real advantage.
When Thompkins connected from behind the arc with 16 seconds left in the third quarter, the Spanish outfit led 66-57.
Bauru got three baskets from Alex Garcia early in the fourth quarter and trimmed the deficit to five points but got no closer.
Jaycee Carroll led Real with 22 points while Llull poured in 21 and Thompkins 17.
Mexico international Gustavo Ayon also had 15 rebounds to go with his five points.
"We started the game very well, being aggressive," Carroll said.
"In the last quarter, they suffered a drop in energy because of how they played throughout the game."
Real had a long trip to make to play the series but they're glad they did.
"We're going to enjoy this," Carroll said.
"It's our fifth title dating back to last season and we'll get ready for the season."
FIBA