In a significant upset in the Spanish Liga ACB playoffs, Patty Mills and his Tenerife team have eliminated the top-seeded Real Madrid. Mills delivered a stellar performance, scoring 4 of 5 two-point attempts, 3 of 6 three-pointers, and a perfect 12 of 12 from the free-throw line in just 19 minutes and 17 seconds of play at the Movistar Arena in Madrid.
This marks a historic moment, as it’s the first time in 18 years that the 8th seed has defeated the 1st seed. For Real Madrid, this quarter-final exit is their first since 2008, leaving them without a trophy for the season. The defeat has put considerable pressure on coach Sergio Scariolo and his Euroleague finalists.
“It’s evident we were two completely different teams: one, in its initial configuration, dominated the ACB regular season and was just seconds away from the European championship title; and the other, from the moment we were unable, nor did we know how, to regain the balance between inside and outside play, especially on defense,” commented the Italian coach.
Sergio Scariolo declined to comment on the possibility of the club reconsidering his future at Real Madrid following this stinging failure.
“That’s not a question that concerns me. I have three years left on my contract, and that’s a question for the club,” he responded at a press conference, apologizing to Real Madrid supporters: “We would have liked to offer them a longer playoff run. We apologize for the mistakes we may have made, obviously to our supporters who have backed us all year, who have always been present, always by our side, always encouraging us. We are particularly disappointed for them. This is a moment to learn, to congratulate our opponent, and to begin preparing for next season with serenity and clarity. We need to identify our areas for improvement. Of course, it’s impossible to prevent three or four players from getting injured in the same position; it happened, and it’s very atypical, very unusual to draw conclusions from it. But there are points to analyze and improve, especially in defense. Throughout my career, I’ve had seasons and championships where my teams were among the best in terms of defensive performance. We achieved that at certain moments in both competitions, but it’s clear that our defensive effectiveness lately has been insufficient.”
English Translation and Paraphrased Text:
Title: Patty Mills and Tenerife Defeat Real Madrid in Spanish Playoffs
Body: Australian point guard Patty Mills led Tenerife to a stunning upset over top-seeded Real Madrid in the Spanish Liga ACB playoffs. Mills was highly efficient, scoring 20 points in just under 20 minutes on the court, making 4 of 5 two-point attempts, 3 of 6 three-pointers, and a perfect 12 of 12 from the free-throw line.
This victory is significant, marking the first time in 18 years that the 8th seed has eliminated the 1st seed. It also ends Real Madrid’s season without a trophy, as they were eliminated in the quarter-finals, a feat not seen since 2008. The unexpected defeat has cast a shadow over coach Sergio Scariolo and his players, who were also finalists in the Euroleague.
Scariolo acknowledged the stark difference between the two teams, stating, “We were clearly two completely different teams: one that dominated the regular season and was on the verge of a European title, and another that struggled to find balance, particularly defensively.”
When asked about his own future with Real Madrid, Scariolo remained focused on his contract and the club’s decisions, saying, “That’s not my concern. I have three years left on my contract, and it’s a matter for the club.” He offered apologies to the fans for the early playoff exit and emphasized the need for the team to learn from their mistakes. He also highlighted the unusual number of injuries the team sustained as a factor but stressed that defensive lapses were a key area needing improvement, noting their defensive efficiency had been insufficient recently.
