ACB: Surne Bilbao Pushes Toward Playoffs, Barcelona Wins in Zaragoza, Real Madrid Stages Dramatic Comeback

The Liga Endesa matchday saw several important movements in the playoff and relegation battle. Surne Bilbao Basket defeated Unicaja (90-74) led by Darrun Hilliard and Melwin Pantzar, Barcelona ended their losing streak at Príncipe Felipe against Casademont Zaragoza (86-92), and Real Madrid rallied 18 points to overcome MoraBanc Andorra (97-90). Also notable were victories by Valencia Basket over Río Breogán (105-88), UCAM Murcia against Joventut (67-89), and Kosner Baskonia at Manresa (83-88), while Hiopos Lleida stopped La Laguna Tenerife (103-101) and San Pablo Burgos won in Gran Canaria (95-109).

Hilliard and Pantzar Lead Bilbao's Dominant Display (90-74)

Surne Bilbao made their playoff credentials clear with a quality victory over Unicaja (90-76), matching their opponent's 15 wins while having played one more game than the Málaga side.

Led by Melwin Pantzar (11 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists for a 23 rating) and Darrun Hilliard (18 and 4), the Basque team fought until the final possession to overcome the 18-point deficit they faced at Martín Carpena and secure the head-to-head advantage against a direct rival.

For Unicaja, James Webb III (20 and 7) was the standout performer and carried his team through difficult moments, but his elimination by five fouls with seven minutes remaining after two quick personal fouls proved too heavy a burden for Ibon Navarro's side in their comeback attempt.

Hugues Decides Girona's Granada Thriller (84-91)

Bàsquet Girona returned to winning ways on Saturday to keep playoff dreams alive, defeating Covirán Granada 84-91 at the Palacio de los Deportes. Granada remains last in Liga Endesa with survival increasingly difficult.

San Pablo Burgos Overcomes Dreamland Gran Canaria with Strong Offensive Display (95-109)

Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos defeated Dreamland Gran Canaria 95-109 in Liga Endesa after imposing their offensive rhythm throughout much of the game at Gran Canaria Arena.

The Burgos side took the lead from the first quarter and maintained control despite Gran Canaria's comeback attempts under Jaka Lakovic.

UCAM Murcia Conquers Badalona with Basketball Excellence (67-89)

UCAM Murcia secured an important road victory against Asisa Joventut Badalona, one of their direct rivals in the upper standings, and solidified their position in the league's top spots (67-89).

The hosts, who failed to show their usual form, also suffered from the absence of Simon Birgander, Ante Tomic, and Guillem Vives, with Cameron Hunt added to the injury list late due to muscle soreness.

With the home team struggling, the visitors displayed their physical superiority and extended their lead as the game progressed, winning with relative ease.

Kosner Baskonia Extends Winning Streak, Deepens BAXI Manresa's Struggles (83-88)

Kosner Baskonia extended their strong run with their fourth consecutive Liga Endesa victory, defeating BAXI Manresa 83-88 in a tight contest at Nou Congost. Manresa remains trapped in the lower standings after their fourth consecutive league loss.

A 2-11 closing run and the determination of Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (27 points) and Trent Forrest (20) secured victory for the Vitoria side, which now stands at 18 wins and 7 losses, tied with second-place Valencia Basket, who face Río Breogán on Sunday.

On the other side, despite a strong start, the home team faded as the game progressed and deepens their results crisis, remaining in the danger zone with only a three-win cushion over the relegation zone and without yet securing survival.

Hiopos Lleida Stuns La Laguna Tenerife, Returns to Winning Ways (103-101)

Hiopos Lleida secured an important and much-needed victory over La Laguna Tenerife, moving further away from the relegation zone with a 103-101 win in a game where they trailed throughout. Batemon and Ejim were key to recovering their smile after seven consecutive losses.

The visitors held a ten-point lead late in the first quarter and managed it well through the next two periods.

However, in the final quarter, Hiopos Lleida, boosted by the Barris Nord crowd, turned the scoreboard around and secured a vital victory for Gerard Encuentra's team.

For the island side, Marcelinho Huertas's 23 points and 5 assists, in another masterclass performance, proved insufficient to secure the win.

Real Madrid Resurrects with Courage Against MoraBanc Andorra (97-90)

Real Madrid, after a first quarter where they trailed MoraBanc Andorra by 18 points, came alive in the following two quarters to complete their comeback in a brilliant third period, securing a victory built on the skill and accuracy shown by Dominican Andrés Feliz and Ukrainian Alex Len with 15 and 17 points, respectively.

Two days after their EuroLeague loss in Vitoria against Kosner Baskonia, Real Madrid, on Easter Sunday, returned to Movistar Arena to offer their fans a victory against MoraBanc Andorra, a rival they have historically dominated with 24 wins in 30 matchups.

Balanced Valencia Basket Overcomes Río Breogán (105-88)

Valencia Basket defeated Río Breogán 105-88 on Sunday at Roig Arena in a game where four local players scored double figures, with Dominican shooting guard Jean Montero leading the way with 19 points.

Barcelona Breaks Zaragoza Curse (86-92)

Barcelona finally broke their losing streak at Príncipe Felipe on Sunday, a venue where they hadn't won since 2022, defeating Casademont Zaragoza 86-92 despite the home side's strong performance against a powerful rival that maintained composure in a closely contested game.

The Barcelona matchup was a tough hurdle for the home side in their remaining path to secure Liga Endesa survival, though the Catalan team arrived in the Aragonese capital with two important European commitments coming up on the calendar.