Big Surprise in the King's Cup! Baskonia Dominates Real Madrid

The Copa del Rey already has a champion. Baskonia reclaimed the throne 17 years later by defeating the top favorite, Real Madrid, in a thrilling final decided in a tense final quarter (89-100). The Vitorian team won its seventh Copa del Rey title, the first since 2009, fulfilling the dreams of fans who had been waiting for a night like this.

Real Madrid Baloncesto and Kosner Baskonia had an unprecedented duel for the trophy, with King Felipe VI in attendance and a festive atmosphere long before tip-off. On the benches, a clash of Italian coaches: Sergio Scariolo against Paolo Galbiati. This time, history favored the accomplished student.

Madrid started like a whirlwind. Hezonja opened the score, and after a jump ball won by Tavares, the Whites established a 13-2 lead, prompting Galbiati to call a timeout. Campazzo and Llull punished on the fast break, and Tavares asserted dominance in the paint. Five for five in field goals and a sense of superiority. However, the final had many twists and turns.

Baskonia began attacking boldly. Penetrations, fearlessness against Tavares, and a clear strategy when the Cape Verdean sat with two fouls. Luwawu-Cabarrot took charge, Omoruyi punished from beyond the arc, and Forrest set the pace. From 13-2, it was soon tied, then a Vitorian comeback (17-19). Madrid lost their fluency, leading to an electric exchange ending the first quarter in a deadlock.

In the second quarter, the Whites tried to pull away again. Feliz brought energy and points, Len was strong in the paint, and Campazzo was sharp from three-point range. Madrid surged ahead by ten (40-30) and seemed to be taking control of the final. However, Baskonia resisted every blow. Luwawu continued scoring with determination, Forrest wowed with a thunderous dunk over Tavares, and Omoruyi kept the team steady under pressure. At halftime, Madrid led (52-47), but the game was far from decided.

The second half confirmed that there was no clear favorite. Luwawu reached historic figures for the club in a final, with every basket of his promptly answered by Hezonja or Campazzo. Madrid sought out Tavares, but Diakite contested every ball, including a block that ignited the Vitorian crowd. Meanwhile, Forrest delivered a complete performance: scoring, rebounding, and setting the tempo.

The third quarter was a roller coaster. Garuba boosted the Whites with an and-one play, and Maledon capitalized on a turnover to create a gap (72-64). It seemed like another turning point, but Luwawu rose again, ending the period with 28 points. Baskonia stayed composed, setting the stage for a close final ten minutes (72-67).

That's when Vitorian character shone through. Omoruyi hit a critical three to tie at 79, and Forrest took charge with leadership and courage. He stole balls, attacked the rim, and drew vital fouls. Madrid, pressured, made uncharacteristic mistakes: turnovers, poor shots, and a sense of rush contrasting with Baskonia's clarity.

With just over a minute left, the game was on a knife's edge (86-90). Forrest drove past Tavares, converting an additional free throw to widen the lead. He then stole a decisive ball from Maledon. Howard secured points from the charity stripe, and though Hezonja responded with a three-pointer offering a glimmer of hope, Diakite's block was nearly decisive.

Baskonia's Perfect Finish

In the final seconds, Baskonia remained resolute. Forrest, omnipresent, capped his performance with 22 points and excellent court management. Kurucs sealed the victory with a layup off the backboard, and the final score reflected the magnitude of the achievement: 89-100. Real Madrid, the heavy favorite, fell to an opponent that weathered every storm and struck at the right moment.

Sergio Llull missed out on his eighth Copa. Scariolo fell short of the title that would have made history with three different teams. The night belonged to Galbiati and a Baskonia absent from the last two editions, having missed four of the previous six. Vitoria dreamed and celebrated again. Seventeen years later, the Copa returned home.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, ¡Sorpresón en la Copa del Rey! El Baskonia pasa por encima del Real Madrid