Madrid secures victory over Obradoiro in overtime

Real Madrid achieved a cinematic comeback in Santiago de Compostela, showcasing their experience in crucial moments against a Monbus Obradoiro that resisted until the last breath. The matchup in the second round of the Liga Endesa was a rollercoaster of emotions, where the blancos had to rely on overtime to secure a victory that seemed elusive in the final moments of regulation time.

Theo Maledon was the true architect of Madrid's victory, accumulating 25 points and a valuation of 38 with a performance that included moments of pure offensive talent. His French teammate Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot added another 25 points with 20 credits of valuation, forming a lethal duo that supported the team when it was needed the most. But it was Jaime Pradilla who wrote the most memorable scene, bursting into overtime with a game-saving three-pointer that silenced the Multiusos Fontes do Sar at the most critical moment.

An Energized Obradoiro at the Start

The Santiago team did not enter the match timidly. With Brandon Childress as the main architect, Monbus Obradoiro displayed electrifying basketball that allowed for an initial run of 7-1, putting the visitors in trouble from the very beginning. Diego Epifanio's team played with defensive intensity and outside accuracy that suggested a complicated afternoon for the Madridistas.

Real Madrid, however, responded patiently. Their first points came from the free-throw line, but offensive rebounds became their main ally to generate second chances. Despite a lack of success from beyond the arc—barely one of eight attempts in the first quarter—the blancos managed to turn the scoreboard before the end of the first quarter, reaching 15-18, which evidenced their ability to find solutions even without their best outside game.

Control and Chaos in the Second Half

The Madrid lead grew to five points in the second quarter (26-31), although turnovers forced Pedro Martínez to call a timeout to reorganize his team. The defensive reaction was immediate: a run of 0-6 also forced Epifanio to ask for a pause, as the rival threatened to break the game before halftime.

The blancos headed into the intermission with an 11-point lead (43-54), supported by four successful three-pointers, two of them from Finnish player Mika Jantunen. Everything seemed under control; it appeared that Real Madrid would dominate clearly. But basketball is a sport of nuances, and the Madridistas suffered an offensive blackout in the third quarter that revived the Santiago team.

Monbus Obradoiro plugged in defensively, capitalizing on the damage that Joel Soriano was causing in the paint and Álex Barcello's outside accuracy to punish a disorganized Madrid defense. In a matter of minutes, the eleven-point lead evaporated as if it had never existed, opening up a scene of uncertainty that would dominate the rest of the game.

The Final Tension and Decisive Overtime

The final quarter was a tug-of-war where Real Madrid broke away again to 77-88, thanks to their accuracy from the three-point line. But Obradoiro resurrected once again: first with a long three-pointer from Sergi Quintela, then with a two-point basket plus a foul from Joel Soriano. Tension reached its peak when Quintela put the Santiago team ahead (92-91), forcing Luwawu-Cabarrot to respond quickly.

A technical foul on Tavares and a three-pointer from Barrueta put Obradoiro dreaming of victory (96-94) with only two minutes left. The excitement was at its peak; the Multiusos Fontes do Sar was boiling with hope. Maledon and Luwawu-Cabarrot held Real Madrid together in those final moments, bringing the game to overtime where the blancos' experience would make the difference.

In the extra five minutes, Pradilla emerged with his game-saving three-pointer to silence the Galician venue. Monbus Obradoiro got stuck offensively, unable to respond. Six consecutive free throws—four from Maledon and two from Pradilla—sealed a hard-fought but valuable win for Madrid's interests in the second round of the Liga Endesa.

Final Statistics and Key Players

Brandon Childress led the Obradoiro with 23 points, accompanied by contributions from Joel Soriano (13), Agada (16), Barrueta (13), and Barcello (13). A balanced distribution that reflected the collective effort of the Santiago team, insufficient against the quality of the French duo from Real Madrid. Mika Jantunen contributed 13 points for the blancos, while Nick Smith added 10 from a bench that demonstrated offensive depth.

The match played before 5,976 spectators at the Multiusos Fontes do Sar will be remembered for its intensity, plot twists, and Real Madrid's ability to resolve situations in the most challenging moments. A lesson in character and experience that the Madridistas needed in this second round of the competition.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Madrid resuelve en la prórroga la victoria ante Obradoiro