On June 2, 2026, Real Madrid Baloncesto suffered a heartbreaking 97-98 defeat to La Laguna Tenerife at the Movistar Arena. Despite leading for much of the contest and holding a seven-point advantage with less than a minute remaining, Real Madrid were undone by a dramatic late surge from the visitors, who connected on three consecutive three-pointers, including the game-winner with just four seconds left on the clock.
The evening began with a special moment for Mario Hezonja, who was presented with his Liga Endesa MVP and Best Five awards before tip-off. Tenerife started the stronger of the two sides, finding success from beyond the arc as Tim Abromaitis and Aaron Doornekamp helped establish an early 6-11 lead. Real Madrid Baloncesto responded through increased defensive intensity after Sergio Scariolo turned to his bench, allowing the hosts to gain control of the game.
As the contest progressed, Real Madrid appeared to be in command, consistently keeping Tenerife at arm’s length and controlling large stretches of the scoreboard. The home side built a cushion that looked sufficient heading into the closing moments, showcasing the resilience and composure expected from a team playing in front of its home supporters.
However, the final minute delivered a stunning twist. With only 53 seconds remaining and Madrid leading by seven points, Tenerife launched an extraordinary comeback. Three consecutive three-pointers turned the game on its head, with the decisive shot finding the net with four seconds left to silence the Movistar Arena and hand the visitors a dramatic one-point victory.
After the game, I had the opportunity to attend the post-game press conference, which included the head coaches of La Laguna Tenerife, Txus Vidorreta, and Real Madrid Baloncesto, Sergio Scariolo.
The result leaves Real Madrid Baloncesto facing an uphill battle in the best-of-three series. After surrendering home-court advantage in Game 1, they must now win the next two games to secure a place in the Liga Endesa semifinals.