Bilbao Basket conquers the Euskal Kopa with a victory over Baskonia

The Bilbao Basket has concluded its preparation phase with an impeccable record of four consecutive victories, demonstrating a consistency that transcends individual names. In each of its victories, it has applied the same pattern: spreading the scoring among multiple players and punishing opponents when they show signs of fatigue. In the Mendizorroza pavilion, the team led by Jaume Ponsarnau executed this plan flawlessly, sealing the Euskal Kopa with a score of 85-99 that reflects the dominance achieved in the second half of the match.

The superiority of the Bilbao team was based on two key aspects: the availability of a full roster and the experience gained from four previous games. The Baskonia, on the other hand, arrived at this match with limited players and had to rely on flashes of individual talent to stay competitive. This difference in preparation moments marked the course of the game from the very beginning.

A first quarter of local dominance that did not last

The first ten minutes were Vitoria's territory. Damion Baugh executed a good one-on-one that allowed Baskonia to take the lead on the scoreboard for the first time, while an and-one also favored the locals. However, Martin Krampelj became the defensive and offensive anchor that Bilbao needed when Baskonia found its rhythm. The quarter ended with a 22-19 lead for the blue-and-maroon, foreshadowing what was to come.

The second quarter was decisive

Baskonia's rotation suffered due to accumulated fouls, a problem that Bilbao was quick to exploit. The visitors started the second period with a 2-15 run that allowed them to take control of the match. Darrun Hilliard and Adam Somogyi were the main executors of this offensive attack, stretching the lead to ten points by the 17th minute. Although AJ Lawson tried to bring Baskonia back into the fight with his defensive and offensive activity, a three-pointer by Hilliard closed the first half with Bilbao ahead 34-46.

This second quarter was the turning point. Bilbao had managed to create a significant gap and, more importantly, had demonstrated its ability to maintain the pace even when the opponent reacted. The blue-and-maroon defense pressured at the right moments, while the offense continued to be shared among different scorers.

The second half: control and management

After the break, a 0-6 run stretched the lead to eighteen points, which seemed to decide the match. Chris Duarte, making his debut in the game for Baskonia, responded with ten consecutive points in an attempt to keep local hopes alive. However, three consecutive three-pointers from Nate Darling kept the lead above ten and prevented the Vitorians from regaining the necessary rhythm.

The last quarter began with a score of 60-74, and from that point onwards, there was no change in script. Bastien Vautier faced little trouble under the basket, while Baskonia gradually found themselves without energy, attempting to cut the deficit through the individual talent of their standout players. The Bilbao defense was suffocating at key moments, preventing any dangerous approaches.

Offensive distribution, a hallmark

The final numbers of the match perfectly reflect Bilbao's philosophy in this preseason. Nate Darling and Bastien Vautier finished with 17 points each, followed by Darrun Hilliard with 14, Margiris Normantas with 13, Martin Krampelj also with 13, and Tryggvi Hlinason with 12. Six players scoring over ten points is exactly the hallmark that the team has displayed throughout the summer. There is no dependence on star names, but rather a balance that complicates the opponent's defense and guarantees offensive consistency.

For Baskonia, Chris Duarte was the leading scorer with 22 points, while Elijah Stewart contributed 13. Despite these respectable individual numbers, they were not enough to counter the offensive depth of the visitors.

Future prospects for both teams

For Bilbao, this undefeated preseason and the Euskal Kopa in hand convey the feeling of being a well-formed team, ready to face the challenges of the season. The team will debut in the Liga Endesa at home against Manresa and will have ten open matches broadcasted by ETB1 throughout the campaign. This media visibility, combined with their current form, places the Bilbao team in a position to be a key player in the domestic competition.

For Baskonia, this defeat represents the fourth signal in a week that the issues in the paint remain unresolved. The loss of Khalifa Diop, claimed by the Cleveland Cavaliers, has left a significant void in the center position. The ongoing negotiations with Alex Len and their inquiries about Michael Ruzic highlight the urgency to reinforce that area. The previous Saturday, the Vitoria team already finished a match without available centers due to accumulated ejections, and this Tuesday they again fell short under the basket. These structural problems could significantly affect Baskonia's performance in the coming weeks.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, El Bilbao Basket conquista la Euskal Kopa con victoria sobre el Baskonia