Real Madrid were defeated by Tenerife with a final score of 107-95 in the last duel of the quarterfinals of the elimination phase of the domestic competition, in the “Movistar Arena”, after the difference was made in the last quarter of the game, following the entry of Patty Mills, a three-time NBA winner. The island team joins Valencia in the “square of aces” of the domestic competition and waits to see which of Murcia, Barcelona, ​​Joventut and Baskonia will manage to secure a place in the penultimate phase of the competition.

Real Madrid and Tenerife faced off in the decisive match regarding the qualification for the last four teams remaining in the game to win the title this season’s ACB, and, at the “Movistar Arena”, the confrontation would begin with the host team in a complicated situation, since the team trained by Sergio Scariolo had not won on home soil since the first day of May, when they would overcome Hapoel Tel Aviv. In fact, after that match, a success followed at the end of overtime in the company of Murcia. In the most recent three duels that were played in front of their own supporters, the group from the capital of Spain lost, one by one, to Joventut, Baskonia and the team from Canarias.

On the other hand, the team trained by Txus Vidorreta had, prior to this match, three failures and two triumphs in the last five matches that were played away from home. If the first meeting played in this quarter-final ended with the success of the Tenerife team, with a difference of one point, in the capital of Spain, the second confrontation ended with the revenge that Real Madrid took away, obtaining a victory with a final score of 118-83. Regarding the direct matches that were played in the past between the two groups, the ratio was tilted towards the club prepared by Sergio Scariolo, at least, in the last five such occasions that took place.

Enrique Riquelme, the candidate in the presidential elections organized by Real Madrid, took part in this duel, the day before the fans of the group in the capital of Spain voted for the new leader of the club. Mario Hezonja scored a basket from a long distance in the first seconds of this duel, after receiving a pass from Facundo Campazzo. The same Croatian basketball player made his way through the opponents, twisted and finished from close range. Then, Mario Hezonja missed one of the two free throws he had to execute, and the visitors took the lead after scoring on a counterattack.

Later, Aaron Doornekamp shot for three points from a great distance and widened the gap on the scoreboard to eight lengths. Mario Hezonja continued to shine at the start of the confrontation, and the Croatian athlete slipped between two opponents and scored a two-point basket. A collective action of all beauty led to the reduction of the overall score, when Mario Hezonja received a ball in front of the basket and scored without much trouble. David Kramer, who entered during the match, put Real Madrid, for the first time, in a position to lead the game, but, immediately, on a counterattack, Tenerife equalized.

The second quarter of this domestic knockout matchup began with the hosts holding a tenuous one-point lead. Andres Feliz brought the crowd to their feet in the first minute when he hit a long-range three-pointer. The Spanish capital team then took a four-point lead thanks to two free throws. Gabriel Deck scored on his team’s free throws to tie the game with about three minutes left in the first half.

Gabriel Deck received a ball near the opposing basket and converted the shot, reducing the deficit on the scoreboard, immediately after the resumption of play at the “Movistar Arena”. Gabriel Deck wasted the chance to bring his team back into the game when he missed the two free throws he had at his disposal. He got his revenge a few seconds before entering the locker room, but immediately after that, Tenerife returned to the attack and maintained their advantage. The third quarter of this confrontation began with an incredible moment that occurred on the visitors’ offense, when a three-point shot was canceled due to the expiration of time, but, from a free throw, Tenerife scored.

Facundo Campazzo managed to put into practice a quality individual action and score a two-point basket, and then Mario Hezonja and Gabriel Deck contributed to the fruition of a counterattack that brought Real Madrid within one length of Tenerife. The same “seven” of the group from the Spanish capital decided to shoot from a complicated angle and score for three points, bringing his team to the advantage on the scoreboard. Mario Hezonja showed control of his emotions in a tense moment and made the most of both free throws that Real Madrid had at their disposal.

Mady Sissoko converted a free throw and entered his name on the scorer list for the first time in this confrontation, equalizing the situation overall. Towards the end of this quarter, the situation on the field changed in the sense that the group coached by Sergio Scariolo managed to break away overall. The fourth quarter began with the island team tying the score on the scoreboard and the team from the Spanish capital responding on the counterattack to take the “reins” in this confrontation. Patty Mills entered the match and changed the dynamics of the game in favor of the Tenerife team, thanks to the three-point shots that she made.

With about five minutes left, Tenerife was seven lengths ahead on the scoreboard, being in a favorable position to advance in the domestic competition. Patty Mills came out on the ramp again, managing to score a three-point basket, creating a distance of 10 points between the two teams. Andres Feliz reduced the difference thanks to a sensational shot that he managed from distance, but, immediately after, the island team scored once again. Theo Maledon did not disappoint from close range and made both free throws that his team received, precisely to give Real Madrid the chance to seek an equalizer.

Tenerife qualified for the semifinals of the domestic competition, after taking advantage of the sensational form displayed by three-time NBA winner Patty Mills in the last quarter of the game. The island team won with a final score of 107-95.