Spanish League Semifinals, Game 1: May 23, 2008
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AXA FC Barcelona and Tau Ceramica got close to reach the Spanish League next season by winning the opening games in their respective best-of-three semifinal series against DKV Joventut and Unicaja. Barcelona took a 0-1 lead in its series by edging DKV Joventut 90-93 in Badalona on Thursday, in arguably one of the best games seen in the Spanish League this season. Jaka Lakovic led the winners with 23 points on 12-for-13 free throws and 6 assists. Alex Acker added 20 points on 15-for-16 free throws, Ersan Ilyasova posted a double-double of 16 points and 14 rebounds while Mario Kasun had 13 points for Barcelona. Rudy Fernandez led Joventut with 30 points while Jerome Moiso added 20. Joventut rallied from a 14-point deficit in the final 7 minutes to get within 84-85, but Acker hit 8-for-8 foul shots to win it for Barcelona down the stretch. In Vitoria, Tau downed Unicaja 81-68 in Game 1 on Friday. Zoran Planinic led the winners with 15 points on 4-for-4 three-pointers. Tiago Splitter added 14 while Mirza Teletovic had 11 for Tau. Boniface Ndong had 19 points for Unicaja, Marcus Haislip had 13 and Jiri Welsch 11. Unicaja rallied from a 19-point deficit to get within 59-55, but Planinic and Splitter stepped up to win it for Tau.
Joventut ran its offense through an outstanding Moiso in the opening minutes but Basile followed an off-balanced jumper with a three-point play for a 7-10 Barcelona lead. Fernandez and Pau Ribas struck from downtown in an 11-0 run that allowed Joventut to get a 24-20 edge after 10 minutes. More three-pointers by Lubos Barton and Fernandez boosted the hosts' lead to 30-23. Ilyasova and Kasun tried to change things for Barcelona, but Moiso and an unstoppable Fernandez kept Joventut ahead, 42-38, at halftime. Ilyasova and Kasun kept pacing Barcelona while free throws by Lakovic and Acker completed the guests' comeback, 52-56. Jan Jagla and an final basket by Edu Hernandez-Sonseca kept Joventut in the game, 62-65, after 30 minutes. Barcelona shined against Joventut's zone defense early in the fourth quarter, as Lakovic and Ilyasova made it a 14-point game, 62-76, with less than 7 minutes to go. Fernandez led the hosts' comeback, and he joined forces with Moiso to bring Joventut within 84-85 with 1:29 to go. Acker sank 8-for-8 free throws to make Barcelona get a 90-93 edge, but Joventut had the final possession. Fernandez had time to get an open look, but his nine-meter three-pointer did not fall in, allowing Barcelona to escape with a crucial win.
Unicaja stayed in the game early, as consecutive three-pointer by Haislip brought the guests within 14-12 midway through the opening quarter. Pete Mickeal and Teletovic struck from downtown while Splitter scored to give Tau a 26-17 lead. A final three-point play by Igor Rakocevic allowed Tau to get a double-digit margin, 29-19, after 10 minutes. James Singleton took over with three consecutive baskets - including an incredible revese layup - while Pablo Prigioni and Sergi Vidal offered some help to break the game open, 43-24, late in the second quarter. Carlos Jimenez and Ndong tried to change things for Unicaja, but only managed to bring the guests within 48-32 at halftime. Unicaja improved with a 2-3 zone defense after the break. Meanwhile, an outstanding Ndong, a jumper by Haislip and a three-pointer by Berni Rodriguez gave Unicaja some hope, 56-50, after 30 minutes. Another triple by Haislip made it a four-point game, 59-55, but Tau found a go-to guy in Planinic. He beat the shot clock with a wild three-pointer, scored again from downtown and fed Teletovic for another triple that sealed the outcome, 72-61, with 3 minutes to go. Unicaja kept fighting but all Tau fans were already celebrating a big home win. A three-pointer by Splitter - his second in 174 ACB career games - sealed Tau's win in style.
| Semifinal Playoffs, best of 3 games |
| Record | Team | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | | 1 | Tau Ceramica (4) | 81 | May 25 | *May 27 | | 0 | Unicaja (8) | 68 | - | - | | 0 | DKV Joventut (2) | 90 | May 24 | *May 26 | | 1 | AXA FC Barcelona (3) | 93 | - | - |
| Semifinal games | | Game 1 | DKV Joventut vs. AXA FC Barcelona | 90-93 | May 22 | | Game 1 | Tau Ceramica vs. Unicaja | 81-68 | May 23 | | Game 2 | AXA FC Barcelona vs. DKV Joventut | - | May 24 | | Game 2 | Unicaja vs. Tau Ceramica | - | May 25 | | Game 3 | DKV Joventut vs. AXA FC Barcelona | - | *May 26 | | Game 3 | Tau Ceramica vs. Unicaja | - | *May 27 |
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