MADRID, Dec. 16 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid remain top of the ACB Endesa basketball league thanks to a 97-87 win on Sunday.
The win means Pablo Laso's side have won all 12 matches this season and have a three-win lead at the top of the table ahead of Valencia and Herbalife Gran Canaria.
Valencia returned to winning way with a crushing 107-75 victory over FIATC Joventut, who will have to work hard in the next five matches if they want to qualify for Copa del Rey.
Herbalife meanwhile continued Barcelona's recent poor record in the Canary Islands by inflicting 81-69 defeat on the reigning champions, who have lost seven of their last eight visits to Gran Canaria.
Caja Laboral won a nerve-wracking Basque derby 81-80 at home to Bilbao Basket to move into fourth place, two ahead ahead of this weekend's rivals, while Barca are seventh ahead of Asefa Estudiantes who remain eighth despite losing 70-63 defeat away to an improving Mad-Croc Fuenlabrada, who are the side who spend the most time in possession in the entire league.
Meanwhile CAI Zaragoza's 82-64 home win against Unicaja Malaga takes them up to fifth with a two game cushion over Unicaja, who are currently ninth and needing to find some form or risk missing out on a cup place, which goes to the top eight sides after 17 matches.
Elsewhere UCAM Murcia defeated Assignia Manresa, who remain with just one win all season, 95-80, while Cajasol Sevilla left Lagun Aro in a similar situation with a 73-57 beating.
Lagun Aro and Manresa are now two wins behind their nearest rivals and in danger of being cut adrift.
Finally CB Canarias are another side improving of late and confirmed their decent form with a 74-68 victory over UCAM Murcia.?