Tavares breaks the block record in the Endesa League

Week 6 of the Endesa League will be recorded in the history of Spanish basketball for an unprecedented defensive milestone. At the start of the third quarter of the matchup between Real Madrid and Burgos, Walter Tavares reached his 739th block, surpassing the 738 recorded by Fran Vázquez throughout his career. A record that symbolizes defensive excellence and the consistency of one of the most dominant figures in the championship's paint.

The record-setting game was not an easy task for the whites. Without the presence of Maledon, Jantunen, or Nick Smith Jr., the Madrid team started with difficulties, scoring only 14 points in the first quarter. It wasn't until 2:25 before halftime that they managed to take the lead. A 12-0 run gave them control at halftime (39-31), and after an emotional tribute to Tavares, with his family on the court and the record ball in Llull's hands, the whites extended their lead to a maximum of 18 points. Luwawu-Cabarrot (17) and Shulga (14) were the top scorers for the home team, while DJ Steward responded with 20 points for the visitors, who ultimately fell 90-79.

The Galician Derby with a Lucense Flavor

The first Galician derby of the season between Monbus Obradoiro and Río Breogán was decisively settled in the third quarter. After a balanced first half, where Breogán led by seven (43-50), Luis Casimiro's team came out of the locker room with a devastating run of 19-32 that broke the game open. Tevin Brown (22 points) and Fran Alonso (19) led a team that scored 16 three-pointers and surpassed 100 points again, solidifying their dominance in Galician basketball. In Diego Epifanio's Obradoiro, Jordi Soriano's 22 points and Álex Barcello's 18 were insufficient, as the team suffered two consecutive losses.

The victory allowed Río Breogán to maintain their competitive position, while Obradoiro seeks to regain their momentum after this setback at home. The derby clearly highlighted the difference in offensive pace and shooting accuracy, areas where Breogán demonstrated notable superiority.

Comebacks and Showcases During the Round

At the Coliseum of A Coruña, one of the most exciting comebacks of the round unfolded. La Laguna Tenerife dominated for over 27 minutes and was up by 12 points, thanks to the outside shooting of Kyle Guy and Wesley van Beck, entering the last quarter with a nine-point lead (64-73). However, Alonzo Verge was the catalyst for Leyma Coruña's comeback, finishing with 26 points, 12 assists, and a 34 efficiency rating, earning him Player of the Week honors. With a rebounding dominance (44-28) and points from Conditt and Šiliņš in the paint, Leyma closed with a decisive last quarter of 29-16 to win 93-89.

The offensive showcase came from UCAM Murcia, who erased the bad taste of their European defeat against Peristeri with a powerful offensive display. A first quarter of 34-21 and a final quarter scoring 40 points left a lopsided score of 125-98 with a maximum lead of 30 points. Howard Sant-Roos was the star of the match with 24 points and an impressive 5 of 6 from three-point range, well supported by Michael Forrest (22) and Dylan Ennis (19). Lleida, who had allowed 122 points against Real Madrid in the previous round, again exceeded 120 points against.

Significant Victories and Promising Debuts

Casademont Zaragoza opened the day with one of their most complete performances of the season. After a balanced first quarter (23-21), Gonzalo García's team increased their lead in each period, showcasing fluid ball movement that Girona never found: 27 assists to 9. Guillem Vives led and scored 21 points, Jaworski added 17, and Birutis contributed 15 points and 8 rebounds. For Girona, Jassel Pérez (19) and McClung (16) were the only ones to find offensive consistency in a game where the control of play was absolute for the Aragonese.

Velimir Perasović celebrated his first victory at the helm of Kosner Baskonia with a convincing win over Manresa. Kobi Simmons paved the way with three consecutive three-pointers in the first quarter and finished with 22 points and a 27 efficiency rating. Manresa turned the scoreboard around after halftime with a 6-18 run, but DJ Stewart led the response with a 24-4 run that closed the third quarter at 83-64. Yordan Minchev (12 points and 14 rebounds) was the best for a Manresa team still seeking their first win in the competition.

Valencia Basket under Xavi Albert showed they had more resources in their lineup. Against MoraBanc Andorra, the team from Xativa held on for three quarters but entered the last with a nine-point deficit (68-77). However, a final quarter of 11-34 turned the game into a clear showcase. Armoni Brooks scored 23 points in just 16 minutes, and Miguel Saint-Supéry added 17, as the Valencians forced 17 turnovers and even won by 35 points (111-79). James Akinjo and Artem Pustovyi kept Andorra in the game for much of the match, but the offensive superiority was overwhelming.

Tight Finishes and Surprises

Surne Bilbao stormed the Olímpic de Badalona in a game with six lead changes. Joventut went into halftime ahead (44-38) after a second quarter where they held their rivals to 11 points, but Bilbao responded with a third of 29-17 that gave them control. Tryggvi Hlinason was the most valued player with 13 points, 8 rebounds, and a 22 efficiency rating, while DJ Hilliard was the leading scorer for the visitors with 17. Nico Laprovittola scored 22 points and Ricky Rubio 13 for Joventut, who dropped to 2-4 with a 10 of 35 from three-point range. Nikola Radičević made his debut with 10 minutes on the court.

The end of the day featured the closest and most exciting finish. Unicaja dominated the first half with a maximum lead of 12 points and a 54-45 at halftime, but Barça tied in the third quarter (72-72) thanks to the three-pointers from Shake Umude and the effectiveness of Joel Parra, the top scorer for the Blaugrana with 17 points. With 89-87 for the locals in the final minute, Darío Brizuela hit the decisive three-pointer, and Perry missed the last shot. Unicaja cut a five-game winning streak in a match that showcased the competitiveness of both teams.

The standings tightened after this sixth round. Behind Real Madrid, there are seven teams with four wins and two losses, promising an intense battle in the coming weeks. Valencia Basket, Kosner Baskonia, La Laguna Tenerife, Río Breogán, Casademont Zaragoza, and Barça are vying for privileged positions, while the rest of the competition remains closely vigilant for any slip-ups from the leaders.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Tavares rompe el récord de tapones en la Liga Endesa