The situation for Real was complicated enough and the threat of a home defeat to reliable Málaga looming that would rob them of any hope of finishing first in the Liga Endesa regular season. Despite Chus Mateo fielding a dozen without seven core players, an 18-year-old starter and three teenagers, the Whites managed to survive by beating Unicaja 102-90.

For this to happen Gerson Yabusele it was deemed necessary to remain on the ground for 37’39”. The French striker, who is suspended in the EuroLeague and will not play against Partizan on Wednesday (10/5) had energy to spare and was the driving force on both sides of the stage. In fact, he was half a team to himself when he was successful personal record wears white with 28 points (5/8 2-pointers, 5/7 3-pointers). He also amassed 11 rebounds and had two steals.

Of course the Sergio Jule assisted him during his absence (23 points, 3 assists) and wore down Malaga with the many fouls he earned (seven). So did Janan Musa (16 points) and Nigel Williams-Goss (13 points, 5 assists).

Matteo, looking ahead to Game 5 against Obradovic’s squad, went to a…7.5 player rotation after Randolph had played less than 13 minutes, but saw those who had time rise to the demands of the matchup . The mission’s three teenagers (Diane, Demin, Gondaleth) only showed up at the last minute. On the contrary, 18-year-old Ediage, who started as the main center, stayed in the game for 25 minutes and gave a total of 5 points – 4 rebounds.

Final Four hosts and BCL contenders Unikaha received 24 points from Osetkowski and 15 from Perry, but defensively they didn’t do what they should have done to slow Real’s productivity. Destiny fell to 21-9 and will likely finish fifth in the regular-season final, falling short of fourth-placed Tenerife.

REAL (Mateo): Williams-Goss 13 (3/3 3-pointers, 5 assists), Yule 23 (2/6 3-pointers, 11/12 shots), Yabuscele 28 (5/8 2-pointers, 5/7 3 -Pointers, 11 rebounds, 2 steals), Etiaje 5 (1/2 3-pointers, 4 rebounds), Moussa 16 (1/2 3-pointers), Kozer 7 (1/2 3-pointers), Randolph 2, Ambalde 5 (1/5 3-points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists), Corneli 2, Diane 1, Gondaleth, Demin