Edy Tavares Becomes All-Time Leading Blocker in Spanish League History

Real Madrid center Edy Tavares has made history by becoming the all-time leading blocker in the Spanish Liga ACB. Standing at 2.20 meters tall, the 34-year-old entered the game needing just two blocks to surpass Fran Vazquez's long-standing record and officially claimed the top spot with 739 career blocks.

The historic milestone took place 36 seconds before the end of the first half during a 79:90 victory over San Pablo Burgos, when Tavares rejected Balisa Koprivica. The win extended Real Madrid's winning streak to 11 matches across all competitions, a run that began precisely a month after their defeat to Hapoel Tel Aviv in the EuroLeague.

The match was temporarily halted to celebrate the achievement, with Tavares's wife and children stepping onto the court carrying a giant poster and a novelty flyswatter for a memorable photo session. Teammates and the crowd at the Movistar Arena showered the center with a standing ovation, and team captain Sergio Llull presented him with the official game ball.

"It was a surprise. I am a player who doesn't like to be the center of attention and I didn't want the game to be stopped, but this is something I will remember forever," Tavares said after the game, while paying tribute to his predecessor: "Fran Vazquez has always been a source of motivation and a role model for me."

Tavares began his professional career in Spain with Gran Canaria, where he collected 122 blocks before a brief stint in the NBA. Upon returning to Europe in 2017 to join Real Madrid, he cemented his status as one of the most dominant defensive forces on the continent. Having already accumulated 615 blocks in a Real Madrid jersey, he is also closing in on Fernando Romay's club record.

The Cape Verdean center has led the Spanish league in blocks eight times and has been named the league's Defensive Player of the Year six times. In a staggering statistical feat, since returning to the ACB, Tavares has single-handedly recorded more blocks than 12 entire teams in the league.