Liga Endesa Playoffs: Tenerife Stuns Real Madrid 98-97 in Thriller
Tenerif shocks Real Madrid in playoff opener Photo Credit: La Laguna Tenerife
Few saw this coming. Real Madrid arrived at the Liga Endesa quarter-finals as one of the tournament’s heavyweights — a team stacked with playoff experience, European pedigree, and star-studded talent. Tenerife, meanwhile, were cast as underdogs. But on June 2, 2026, the script was ripped up. In a shock result that stunned the basketball world, Tenerife edged Real Madrid 98-97 in a thriller that had everything — lead changes, star power, and ultimately, a bench duo that proved to be the great equalizer. In a game where every possession mattered, it was the players coming off the pine who wrote the most improbable story.
Van Beck and Fernández: A Bench Duo for the Ages
Wesley Van Beck was the first spark off the Tenerife bench, delivering 17 points in just 16 minutes and 54 seconds of action. His efficiency and scoring punch gave Tenerife a boost that their starters alone might not have been able to sustain against a Real Madrid roster loaded with talent and playoff experience.
Wesley Van Beck (Tenerife) - Jaime Fernandez (Tenerife)Wesley Van Beck Jaime Fernandez PTS 17 17 REB 1 2 AST 0 2 STL 0 2 BLK 0 0
But if Van Beck lit the fire, Jaime Fernandez poured gasoline on it. The guard matched Van Beck’s 17 points in an even more remarkable 13 minutes and 36 seconds on the floor — a breathtaking rate of production. With the game hanging on a single point, Fernández’s clutch shooting in the closing moments proved decisive, capping a performance that will be remembered long after this playoff run ends.
LE VAN A HACER UN MONUMENTO AL LADO DEL TEIDE A JAIME FERNÁNDEZ 🤯🔥
El triplazo para darle la victoria a La Laguna Tenerife en Madrid 😮💨#LigaEndesaxDAZN 🏀 pic.twitter.com/dHW4TiVMGK
— DAZN España (@DAZN_ES) June 2, 2026
Together, the two reserves combined for 34 points in roughly 30 combined minutes — a bench contribution that no one in Madrid’s camp could have anticipated or answered.
Real Madrid’s Starters Could Not Carry the Load Alone
The contrast in roster usage told its own story. Real Madrid leaned heavily on their core rotation throughout the night. Gabriel Deck logged 30 minutes and 30 seconds, finishing with 11 points and 7 rebounds. Mario Hezonja played 27 minutes and 48 seconds for 12 points, while Trey Lyles led the team with 15 points in 25 minutes and 18 seconds. Andrés Feliz added 14 points and Théo Maledon chipped in 13, but none of them could manufacture the decisive play when it mattered most.
Real Madrid’s reliance on their starting unit, with limited impact from the bench, ultimately left them one point short.
Tenerife’s Depth Proves Decisive
Beyond the bench heroics, Tenerife received solid contributions from their starters as well. Aaron Doornekamp posted 15 points and 4 rebounds in 26 minutes, while Timothy Abromaitis added 15 points and 5 rebounds in just over 20 minutes. Kevin Yebo contributed 10 points to round out a balanced, team-wide effort.
This was not a one-man show — it was a complete team performance built on depth, execution, and trust in every player on the roster. The underdog had believed when few others did.
In a Liga Endesa quarter-final decided by a single point, it was the unsung players who sang the loudest, and an entire city’s sporting dream that came to life. Tenerife’s upset victory will be talked about for years to come.
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