MADRID, June 26 (Xinhua) -- FC Barcelona were crowned as champions of the Spanish ACB Basketball League on Thursday after assuring a 3-1 series win against Real Madrid in the final of the play-offs.

Barca defeated Real Madrid 83-81 on the night in a tight and controversial game which saw Real Madrid coach, Pablo Laso being expelled from the game in the third quarter for his continued protests.

The previous matches had seen Barca win 98-93 in Madrid, before Madrid leveled the series with a 87-78 win. However, back in Barcelona, the Catalans inflicted a painful 94-79 victory over Madrid to leave the title one win away and that win came on Thursday.

The result is revenge for Barca, who lost the Kings Cup knockout competition 77-76 to Real Madrid earlier in the year and who were also knocked out of the Final Four of the Euroleague after suffering a humiliating 100-62 defeat to their main rivals.

On the other hand the result means Real Madrid end what could have been an incredible season with a sour taste in their mouths after losing the Euroleague final to Maccabi Tel Aviv and comfortably finishing top of the regular season in the ACB.

Real Madrid lost just two of their 34 games before the play- offs, finishing ahead of Valencia in the ACB league table, while Barca lost 7 of their 34 matches and looked set for a disappointing campaign before finding their form in the play-offs, which after all, is when it really matters.