SPORTS GLOBE

Natural born winner: Aleksandar Djordjevic

Real Madrid is a new Spanish basketball champion after defeating, as a guest, their consistent rival Barcelona 82-73 (36-44), in the fifth, decisive game of the play-off final.

Home basketball players during the first half time had the lead between four and eight points. The biggest gap was 11 points, in the 23rd minute - 48-37.

Turnabout with three-pointers in key moments of the match was brought by playmaker of Real and Yugoslav national team Aleksandar Djordjevic. In the last minutes guests from Madrid were calmer, recorded 10/10 from the line, and succeed to win which brought them new champion triumph after six years.

- We made the real sensation, because many saw Barcelona as a champion before play off. Especially, before this match, because we played without the best player Herreros - said Djordjevic after the game, who was member of Barcelona last season.