Real Madrid flirts with drama before the rebellion of Valencia

Chris

, a globetrotter who began his career outside the United States in Mongolia, is into hot endings.

A few days ago he closed out a game at OAKA with a three-pointer at the buzzer.

In his final tray, which escaped the ring with a sigh, was the fate of Real Madrid, so erratic and full of doubts that it will play the Cup semifinals after a good sigh of relief.

Against a Valencia of pure courage, Chus Mateo's men played with fire and

prevented him from burning.

[86-85: Narration and Stats]

The Cup of surprises that never occur, the one that returned to Badalona 38 years later, opened gas in an Olympic not even full with a duel of strong sensations.

Adrenaline to start.

And that the dawn did not herald such strength.

But they were going to be two-faced fighters, the beginning of Valencia was as calamitous as the end of Madrid;

or vice versa.

Back and forth energy, confidence that fades and doubts that return when they seemed buried.

Madrid feels in the semifinals although their suspicions return at the close of games, mainly when their old Praetorians are not in the picture.

When there isn't a pure point guard putting order on the track.

Before, the power.

Because holding the gaze of this Real Madrid of a thousand threats is an impossible mission if the intensity is not matched, at least.

's Valencia

wanted to realize it, they were doubled on the scoreboard: in that disheartening stretch of almost 13 minutes they had barely used three fouls.

Deadly sin that would mark the remains.

Tavares dominates from start

The rebound, of course, was a chimera for the taronjas, to whom the initial plan to get Tavares

's triples

turned out fatally.

What's more, everything he had to do with the African giant was a nightmare for them.

And

did not hesitate to keep his mainstay the first 12 minutes on the pitch.

By then everything seemed on track, in the score (31-15) and in the sensations.

Because the next bad news for Valencia was the irruption of

, who chained 10 points in the blink of an eye, with that natural ability to do damage from every corner of the track.

And, despite everything, he left with breath at rest.

Because Tavares gave them a break and because

from almost the middle of the field on the buzzer closed the gap with two triples.

Those small details mark great adventures.

Because nothing was going to be the same anymore.

Valencia returned from the locker room aware that the life granted was a perhaps undeserved gift.

But that didn't mean he was going to stop trying to take advantage of it.

He gave himself up to

, and threw whatever aggression he had left.

In that effort to at least die on his feet, with the success from the perimeter recovered, he was dreaming more and more strongly about the feat.

The small details now went against Madrid, who missed free kicks and conceded too much to an emboldened rival.

And yet, he maintained his composure and the advantage.

Although there was no trace of the veterans.

, who is out of injury, was one of the discards (along with

, such is the luxury of the white squad),

gave the scare with a blow to his left knee and

did not return in the second half.

The taronja rebellion was going to turn everything upside down.

Because Madrid insisted on shooting themselves in the foot, with serious mistakes by

.

Harper finally consummated the comeback (79-81) and, then, in the chaos of disorderly attacks, Gaby Deck showed his claw.

Five points from the Argentinian that were going to be the key, even if for this Madrid flew over the drama when, after another disastrous possession, the ball was left in the hands of Jones.

And then, as in 'Match point', the ball went to the side that saved Chus Mateo.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

• real Madrid

• USA