Fuente: © FIBA (Federación Internacional de Basket)
http://www.fiba.org/

FIBA: ESP - Splitte: ACB title shocker in the past

/noticias.info/ VITORIA (ACB) - Tau Ceramica center Tiago Splitter goes into Wednesday's ACB clash with Real Madrid insisting last season's dramatic ACB play-off final is firmly in the past.

Tau's fans might disagree as the Vitoria-based side should have lifted the title but instead self-destructed in the deciding game.

They led 69-61 lead with just 42 seconds to play but Real came back for a 70-69 win with a three-pointer from Alberto Herreros just six seconds from the end clinching the championship for Madrid.

Tau did beat Madrid on their way to lifting the Super Cup earlier this month, but that hardly compares to a title game.

Nevertheless, Splitter, a Brazilian international who has not played much this season because of a back problem, said: "There is no feeling of us going out for revenge or anything like that.

"That is in the past and now we have to think about the present and think about winning.

"If we are not motivated to play Real Madrid, then something's wrong. Everyone in the team knows what it means to play against them.

Tau are unbeaten after their first three games.

Madrid lost their opening game of the season against Akasvayu Girona but have bounced back to beat Forum Valladolid and Llanera Menorca.

Winterthur Barcelona, led by Tau's former coach Dusko Ivanovic, are also off to an unbeaten start.

They destroyed Adecco Estudiantes 100-66.

Thursday sees them travel to face Etosa Alicante, whose 92-60 defeat to Unicaja Malaga ended their winning start to the season.

And Alicante point guard Nacho Rodriguez, a former Spanish international, is not looking forward to facing the leaders.

"They are the worst team we could play right now. Barca are a great team and they are quickly catching on to Ivanovic's philosophy of the game," he said.

For Estudiantes, Sunday's defeat confirmed their worst-ever start in the ACB.

Juan Antonio Orenga's side have lost their first three games, conceding 262 points in the process.

Uncertainty over the future of Carlos Jimenez, whose move to Real Madrid has not yet taken place and which has been the main talking point of pre-season, is not helping Estu.

"Real Madrid should talk to clubs before negotiating with players who have a valid contract," Estudiantes president Fernando Bermudez said on Tuesday.

So far Jimenez has either underperformed or been left out of the side completely, as he was against Barcelona.

On Thursday, they make their debut in their new 'home' - the Madrid Arena, which hosted the Madrid Masters tennis tournament a week ago.

Estudiantes' meeting with Akasvayu Girona, for whom Fran Vazquez and Raul Lopez are starting to find some form, should be one of the highlights of the week.

Girona, after upsetting Real Madrid in the opening week, lost heavily against Tau before defeating Gran Canaria at the weekend.

Lagun Aro Bilbao and Unicaja Malaga, who both won for the first time last weekend, meet in Bilbao, while Forum Valladolid search for their opening triumph when they take on Ricoh Manresa.

Pamesa Valencia look to have steadied the ship following the disappointments of last season and, along with Barcelona and Tau, are the only unbeaten side in the ACB.

They will be favourites to make it four wins out of four when they entertain Granada.

Leche Rio face Caja San Fernando, whose prolific power-forward Lou Roe is averaging 22 points per game so far this season, newly promoted teams Fuenlabrada and Menorca go head to head while Auna Gran Canaria entertain DKV Joventut Badalona. notas_de_prensa_archivo