Valencia, Baskonia, and Leyma win in ACB

The ACB matchday brought mixed emotions across four games, resulting in clear winners and some with a bitter aftertaste. Valencia Basket executed an impeccable game-ending in Zaragoza, transforming a balanced contest into a resounding victory thanks to their outside shooting. Meanwhile, Baskonia left no options for their rival after halftime, and the final seconds in A Coruña experienced a nail-biting climax with a buzzer-beater three-pointer that changed the outcome of the game.

Valencia sets the pace in the decisive stretch

The match between Casademont Zaragoza and Valencia Basket reflected the parity that characterized the first three quarters. With fourteen lead changes in the score during the early stages, both teams demonstrated their ability to compete. The locals, with Homesley’s aggressive defense at the forefront, kept the game alive, while the taronja squad, led by Cárdenas from the point guard position, improved their ball circulation as the game progressed. The halftime arrived with a tight 39-36, foreshadowing a tense second half.

After the break, Nikola Mirotic showcased his offensive quality to put Valencia ahead again, but Guillem Vives answered determinedly, well supported by Brussino. Both teams remained entangled in a struggle with no apparent victor when Jaworski scored to give Zaragoza the advantage. However, TJ Shorts and Josep Puerto restored parity with their three-pointers, bringing the score to 57-57 at the 27th minute. The balance was maintained until the final period, where everything changed drastically.

The final quarter was an offensive festival for Valencia, who scored 31 points while limiting the Aragonese to just 15. The taronja team made 7 of their 10 three-point attempts during this phase, with Taylor and Cárdenas completing a crucial 2 of 2. Zaragoza responded with an anomalous 0 of 4 from three, which proved fatal. The final score of 97-82 reflected the superiority displayed in those last ten minutes, thus closing a perfect week for Valencia with two European victories and one in the domestic competition.

Baskonia crushes Girona without mercy

The bus journey of Bàsquet Girona from Barcelona to Vitoria, complicated by heavy rains that prevented flight on Saturday, was no excuse for what happened at the Coliseum. The visitors started strong and held advantages in the first quarter, but the second period was an absolute turning point. Kosner Baskonia launched a 18-3 run with four consecutive three-pointers, two from Chris Duarte and another two from Márcio Santos, which completely disrupted the balance of the match.

With a 54-42 lead at halftime, the locals were controlling the game. Duarte continued to be effective after the break, extending the lead despite some defensive lapses. The attitude of the Baskonia players improved significantly on defense, providing them with the necessary speed to definitively break the game open. By the time the last period rolled around, they were winning 86-61, with an insurmountable gap. The team from Vitoria kept their foot on the gas, opening a gap of over 30 points that confirmed their improvement after a shaky league start. The final score of 118-78 reflected the superiority shown, allowing Baskonia to secure their second win in two outings, while Girona suffered their first setback of the season.

Duarte shines in Vitoria’s victory

Chris Duarte's performance was decisive in Baskonia's dominance, demonstrating an outside shooting accuracy that completely destabilized the visiting defense. His ability to score from the perimeter, especially in that devastating second quarter, set the tone for an undisputed victory that allowed the locals to recover after a doubtful start to the competition.

Leyma Coruña resolves against Bilbao in overtime

The matchup between Leyma Coruña and Surne Bilbao was an emotional rollercoaster that required an additional period to determine the winner. Equality reigned for much of the game, with both teams alternating leadership and demonstrating competitive capability. The score of 69-67 at the third quarter foreshadowed a tight battle in the final ten minutes.

The locals struck first in the final quarter, forcing Ponsarnau to call a timeout with an 86-79 score that seemed to seal the game. However, Bilbao did not give up. Lukas Uleckas missed a critical free throw, and Luke Petrasek responded with a quick three-pointer to keep hope alive. With two seconds left on the clock, Darrun Hilliard, under the pressure of two defenders, executed a spectacular buzzer-beater three-pointer that silenced the Coliseum and forced overtime.

In the extra period, the equality was maximized. Caio Pacheco, from the free-throw line, established a 104-101 lead with eleven seconds remaining, leaving the fate of the game in the hands of Bilbao. The Basques had two opportunities, the second after an offensive rebound, but both Petrasek and Vautier missed their attempts. The final score of 104-101 represented an epic victory for Coruña, while Bilbao left empty-handed after a performance that deserved more reward.

SP Burgos triumphs in Lleida with a blazing fourth quarter

The duel between iLerna Lleida and Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos was decided in the last quarter, where the visitors unleashed an irresistible offensive onslaught scoring 38 points. The match had unfolded with constant changes, with no clear dominator until the Castilian team accelerated in the final stretch.

With a 54-56 score at the third quarter, the game was heading toward an uncertain outcome. Batemon established that score that took the game into the final period, but just when doubts loomed for the locals, the Batemon-McGhee duo took the reins. A 6-0 run at the start sent the Barris Nord into a frenzy, pushing the score to 60-56 at the 31st minute. Chase Audige particularly shone, scoring the first eight points of his team in the period and propelling the Burgos players to a five-point lead at 62-67.

Although Lleida kept their comeback hopes alive until the end, a missed three-pointer by McGhee with less than a minute to go practically sealed the match. In the final moments, the Catalans strung together several misfires on offense that allowed the Burgos team to extend the lead to the final score of 81-92. A result that, paradoxically, did not reflect the equality shown during the forty minutes of play but rewarded the effectiveness of SP Burgos when it mattered most.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Valencia, Baskonia y Leyma ganan en ACB