Real Madrid defeated Herbalife Gran Canaria 85-81 in the final of the 80th edition of basketball's version of the Copa del Rey, sealing their 26th domestic cup crown and their third in a row.
'Los Blancos' were given a much tougher test than expected by Gran Canaria who, despite trailing practically throughout, stuck to their task and threw everything at their more prestigious opponents, although ultimately the reigning champions' extra class made the difference.
Real Madrid were sharper out of the traps and a 13-2 run saw them take a 16-6 lead in the seventh minute. This should have been the perfect platform for them to push on and cruise over the finish line, but that was not the case.
Like in the previous rounds, the islanders kept calm and carried on, hanging tough in every way possible. They stayed strong in defence, produced some individual brilliance in attack and bust a gut to a man.
Pablo Laso's charges always looked capable of taking it up a gear whenever required, but could not find the killer instinct to put away their plucky opponents. Gran Canaria, meanwhile, seemed to be stretched to the limit at stages, but out of nowhere would find the spark to stay within striking distance.
At times it became a battle of wills, with Real Madrid raring to complete a three-peat, while the underdogs were buoyed on by their dream of lifting the trophy for the very first time.
Gran Canaria gave it their best shot, often led more by their hearts than by their heads, but Laso's troops were eventually able to make their additional experience count and clinch a hard-earned victory without an upset ever genuinely appearing to be on the cards.
