Real Madrid recovered from the end of their 14 game winning streak away to Regal Barcelona last weekend and returned to winning ways with a comfortable 88-77 home win against FIATC Joventut this Sunday.

The win means Madrid have 15 wins from 16 games, but this weekend was all about the sides looking to seal a top-eight place in the ACB Endesa basketball League at the halfway point of the season (17 games).

Regal Barcelona virtually assured their qualification for the Copa del Rey with a crushing 98-50 win over bottom of the table Lagun Aro. Last weekend's win over Real Madrid appears to have given the reigning league champions a confidence boost.

CAI Zaragoza will also be in the cup thanks to a 79-74 win over Mad-Croc Fuenlabrada, while Blusens Monbus kept their hopes of a top-8 place alive with an 89-56 home win over Blancos Rueda Valladolid for their ninth triumph of the campaign.

Blusens' presence will be decided in next weekend's matchday Jan. 17, while Asefa Estudiantes also have options of qualifying despite suffering a 72-68 home defeat to second placed Caja Laboral, who have yet to lose in the league since the arrival of Zan Tabac as coach.

Estudiantes will battle it out with Blusens and Unicaja Malaga for the last place. Unicaja also slipped to defeat away to Herbalife Gran Canaria. Estudiantes and Unicaja have to win and hope the side from Santiago de Compostela fail.

Bilbao, who have 10 wins have assured a cup place despite a thrilling 113-111 defeat away to high-flying Valencia, who were assured of a cup spot before this weekend's round of games.

The game went into overtime but in the end Bojan Dubvejic's 32 points for Valencia were the decisive factor in the final score.

Elsewhere CB Canarias continue to climb towards safety thanks to an 80-68 home victory against UCAM Murcia, while Cajasol Sevilla also improve their position at the expense of struggling Manresa. Endi

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