Leyma Coruña dominates the derby and claims the trophy

The Leyma Coruña won the second edition of the San Roque Trophy after defeating Monbus Obradoiro at the Sara Gómez-Fontecarmoa Pavilion in Vilagarcía de Arousa. The orange team took revenge for the first edition, which had been claimed by the Compostelan team, in a match that filled the stands with fans from both cities. A special preseason event that served as a showcase for the players who remain in their teams after the FIBA windows and other international commitments.

Both teams arrived at the final with incomplete rosters. Absences due to national team commitments and other factors left Carles Marco and Diego Epifanio without many of their key players. Despite this, the tournament fulfilled its purpose of showcasing the potential of those who stayed and those who look to solidify their place in their respective clubs' projects, as was the case with Michael Caicedo in the Compostelan training sessions.

Coruña's Dominance from the Start

Leyma marked its territory from the very first moments. An opening partial score of 2-8 made it clear that Carles Marco's team intended to control the tempo from the first quarter. Scoring was largely inside, with only one three-pointer from each side, closing the first ten minutes with an outside shot from homegrown player Álvaro Soneira that set the score at 13-17.

The second period was decisive. Obradoiro struggled to find offensive continuity, and Diego Epifanio called several timeouts in an attempt to stem the bleeding. However, Leyma's consecutive partials — first a 1-8 and then a 1-10 — were devastating. Alonzo Verge Jr. unleashed himself on offense, increasing the lead to 31-48. Soneira's persistence, including a three-pointer and a steal, trimmed the halftime deficit to 37-49, leaving the two players as standouts of the first half: the U22 Compostelan and the orange point guard from Leyma.

Compostelan Reaction Without a Comeback

After halftime, Obradoiro changed its attitude drastically. Increased defensive intensity, better shooting percentages, and a third quarter of 20-15 left the game at 57-64, completely open. The Compostelans began to see the possibility of a comeback and taking home the trophy. However, every approach from Epifanio's men was met with an immediate response from Leyma.

Two consecutive three-pointers from Jorgensen and Jacobo Díaz brought it back to 66-78. When Alex Barcello hit another three-pointer with just over three minutes left, the score of 71-80 reignited hope in the stands. But Tomas Dimsa sealed the game with a three-pointer with 1:23 remaining, establishing the score at 74-87, which practically closed any chance for a comeback.

Verge Jr. Shines in Victory

In the final points distribution, Alonzo Verge Jr. took the honors with 24 points, rising as the unofficial MVP of the final. He was joined in the scoring frenzy by Radoncic with 15, Jorgensen with 14 and Tomas Dimsa with 13 points. Jacobo Díaz rounded out the Coruña offensive contributions with 8 points, while Uleckas and Jou each added 5, and Taboada contributed 4.

For Obradoiro, the most productive duo was Childress, with 18 points, and Dos Anjos, with 14. Alex Barcello added 11, and Barrueta contributed 8. Álvaro Soneira, the homegrown Compostelan player, was the most promising player on the team with 9 points, confirming his potential in this matchup. Michael Caicedo, the guest of the month at the Compostelan training sessions, also made his debut, scoring 5 points that begin to justify the opportunity given to him. Faure added 7, Riga 4, Galán 3, and Pablo Rodríguez 3, closing the balance.

Galicia in the Elite of Basketball

The San Roque Trophy left a postcard that will turn into a weekly routine in September: the Galician derby at the ACB level. With Breogán debuting on Saturday against the Portuguese Sporting and these two teams clashing again in Vilagarcía, the three Galician representatives in the upcoming Liga Endesa are already in motion. The community will once again have three teams in the elite of Spanish basketball, starting a season that looks historic for the region.

The newly promoted Monbus Obradoiro will debut in the Liga Endesa on September 26, at which point they will conclude their preseason. Until then, they will continue preparing to face their first season in the top tier of national basketball. Leyma Coruña, for its part, leaves Vilagarcía with the title and the confirmation that its potential is notable for the upcoming season.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Leyma Coruña domina el derbi y se alza con el trofeo