Mon, May 07, 2012
MADRID, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Asefa Estudiantes ended 64 years of history in the top flight of Spanish basketball as they were relegated from the ACB Endesa league on Sunday.
Estudiantes needed to beat fellow strugglers UCAM Murcia in order to survive, but playing on their home court in Madrid, they were defeated 86-80. The result means Murcia remain in the ACB, while Estudiantes drop down to the LEB category.
The Madrid based side has a slim chance of remaining in the top flight, however, should either of the two sides promoted from the LEB be unable to meet the financial qualifications demanded by the ACB.
Estudiantes result meant that other games involving sides fighting to avoid relegation were virtually irrelevant, although Blusens Monbus' 89-84 win meant that CAI Zaragoza missed out on the end of season playoffs.
Mad-Croc Fuenlabrada are also safe despite losing 65-55 away to Lucentum Alicante. The win gives Alicante the final playoff place and they will now meet Barcelona in the quarterfinal.
Alicante's win means that Unicaja Malaga just miss out of the top eight, despite a 75-66 win over Banca Civica, whose playoff rival will be Real Madrid.
Caja Laboral finish third and will take on local rivals Gescrap Bizkaya in the playoffs. The two Basque sides met Sunday with Caja Laboral running out comfortable 100-70 winners.
Bizkaya's defeat allowed Lagun Aro to move into fifth and they will meet fourth placed Valencia.
Lagun Aro defeated Gran Canaria 93-78, while Valencia comfortably defeated Blancos Rueda Valladolid 76-59.
Both Regal Barcelona and Real Madrid, who were assured of finishing the regular season first and second, played earlier in the day. Barcelona enjoyed a 77-71 win away to Assignia Manresa, while Jaycee Carroll scored 20 points in Real Madrid's 95-82 victory against FIATC Joventut.
That defeat ended Juventut's slim chance of finishing in the top eight and making the end of season playoffs.
