Pedro Martínez's words after his Valencia Basket's defeat in the debut of the Liga Endesa Final against Barça

The ACB finals started with a highly intense duel at the Roig Arena. Barcelona, led by Xavi Pascual, managed to prevail in a game that was resolved in overtime with a score of 112-113. The azulgranas are now leading 1-0 in the series, just two victories away from the title.

Pedro Martínez, the coach of Valencia Basket, appeared at a press conference after the defeat to analyze the details of a battle that extended beyond regulation time. The taronja coach did not shy away from responsibilities and acknowledged both the merits of the opponent and their own defensive shortcomings during crucial stretches of the match.

Martínez's analysis: defense and missed opportunities

During his address, Martínez was straightforward in his assessments. He highlighted that Valencia Basket started well in the early stages but later encountered defensive issues that allowed Barcelona to score relatively easily. "We started the game very well, but then we had defensive problems, they scored on us very easily. Some things we had discussed before the game, others we hadn’t," explained the coach.

The coach also emphasized the need to credit the opponent. "There are always actions to improve, which you remember when you are losing, but you have to value the opponent, who was very accurate," he pointed out, recognizing that Barcelona executed their game plan precisely at crucial moments.

One of the key points in Martínez's speech was about the overtime. He believed the game should not have reached that stage: "This is basketball, I think we made a great effort. It shouldn’t have gone into overtime, and even in overtime, we had the chance to win." This reflection indicates that Valencia Basket had real opportunities to close the game within the regulation forty minutes.

Mindset and preparation for the second game

Far from being discouraged, Martínez stressed the importance of maintaining mental and tactical focus for the second game. "The players are athletes; they have to think about what's next, not give up, and prepare ourselves mentally and tactically for the second game. What we can't afford now is discouragement for having lost," he firmly stated.

The taronja coach delivered a clear message: the series is in its early stage, and there is a lot of basketball left to be played. Although Barcelona takes a 1-0 lead, Valencia Basket has the opportunity to level the series in the next game with tactical adjustments and a strengthened mindset.

Video review and tactical adjustments

Martínez announced that the coaching staff will conduct a thorough analysis of the footage to identify areas for improvement. "There are always things to adjust; we will now analyze the video in detail, and there will always be adjustments," he noted. However, he pointed out that not all corrections are purely tactical: "There are situations we can do better, but we need to see things to discuss for improvement and others related to the accuracy and inspiration of the players from both teams."

This final remark is particularly revealing. Martínez acknowledges that in high-level competition, besides tactics and defensive discipline, factors like offensive accuracy and individual moments of inspiration come into play that cannot always be controlled from the sidelines. In a final, both teams are tactically prepared, so details and the ability to execute under pressure are decisive.

Series context

Under Xavi Pascual's guidance, Barcelona has confirmed its improvement in the late season with this initial victory. The azulgranas need two more wins to clinch the title, while Valencia Basket must react in the second game to avoid being pushed into a challenging situation.

The intensity of the first game, decided in overtime, promises an exciting series. Both teams have shown competitive ability, although Barcelona secured the final points when they mattered most. For Valencia Basket, the key will be to enhance defensive solidity, especially in moments when they faced the opponent's most effective attacks, and to maintain offensive consistency throughout the regulation forty minutes.

The next meeting will be crucial in determining whether the series evens out or if Barcelona strengthens its lead at the Roig Arena. Martínez and his team are aware of the work ahead: defensive adjustments, a winning mentality, and the ability not to give up against an opponent in good form.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Las palabras de Pedro Martínez tras la derrota de su Valencia Basket en el debut de la Final de la Liga Endesa ante el Barça