Soriano dominates the paint at Obradoiro

The signing of Joel Soriano as the main center of Obradoiro raised quite a few questions among the fans. Relying on an interior game from a player who had averaged just 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 6.9 rating the previous season seemed like a risky bet for those responsible for the Galician academy. However, after playing six rounds with a record of 3 wins and 3 losses, the numbers speak for themselves: 15.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 17.7 rating show that those who backed the New Yorker were completely right.

Currently, Soriano ranks tenth in overall rating, fourth in rebounds, second in made two-point shots (5.83), the best offensive rebounder (4 per game), fourth in dunks (1.7), and, most importantly, the highest-scoring center in the entire Liga Endesa. In a league where scoring is dominated by guards, it is truly exceptional for a pure center to outscore all his positional counterparts.

Absolute dominance in the paint

The 2.08-meter Dominican interior has registered double-digit scoring in 5 of the 6 games played at the start of this season. His best performances came against Ilerna Lleida and Río Breogán, where he reached his record in the ACB with 22 points. This consistency places him 13th in the scoring ranking, tied with TJ Shorts, Kyle Guy, and Dominik Mavra, a luxurious position for a pure center.

What truly distinguishes Soriano's offensive performance is his specialization in the paint. He has scored 33 of his 35 two-point baskets in the paint, ranking him as the second-highest scorer from two-point range. Only Alonzo Verge surpasses him with 38 baskets, of which 37 also come from the restricted area. But Soriano does not limit himself to the most basic play: he also excels with an effective front shot from three or four meters, allowing him to diversify his offensive arsenal. He has made 20 baskets near the rim, a figure shared with George Conditt and Nick Ongenda, while Zach Perrin records 27 and Laurynas Birutis 22.

His ability to draw defensive fouls is also notable. With 4 fouls drawn per game and a free throw conversion percentage of 75.8%, he becomes the seventh highest scorer from 4.40 meters. Among centers, only Artem Pustovyi surpasses him with 5.3 points from the line, which complements his already exceptional offensive ability well.

Offensive rebounding: a historic phenomenon

If his offensive contribution is remarkable, his dominance in offensive rebounding is truly historic. In these six rounds, Monbus Obradoiro, under Epi's direction, leads the offensive rebounding ranking with 15.83 per game, surpassing the 14.83 of Real Madrid and the 14.50 of UCAM Murcia. In advanced percentage statistics, the Galician team holds a strong third place with 37.1%, just behind the 40.1% of the Madrilenians and the 37.9% of Leyma Coruña.

Soriano personally leads the offensive rebounding ranking with 4 per game, a figure that, if maintained, would place him in an unprecedented historic position in the modern era of Spanish basketball. What is truly unusual is that he surpasses his 3.2 defensive rebounds, a phenomenon rarely seen in current sports. Among the top 50 rebounders, only Andersson García (2.7 offensive to 2.2 defensive), Dmytro Skapintsev (2.3 to 2), and Raúl Lobaco (1.7 to 0.5) repeat this pattern.

Unique historical perspective

To contextualize the exceptional nature of Soriano's 4 offensive rebounds, it is necessary to review historical records. The last time someone matched or surpassed this figure was in the 2003-2004 season when Brent Scott finished with 4.6 and Kevin Thompson with 4.2. Although several cases were recorded in the 80s and 90s, the current pace of basketball, with broader rotations and a more dynamic game, makes reaching these numbers absolutely exceptional.

The historical ACB record is held by Felipe Reyes and Jerome Lane, both averaging 5.3 offensive rebounds. Jerome Lane is the only player to have averaged two seasons with 5 or more offensive rebounds. The only ones who have reached or surpassed 4 per game on two occasions are Tanoka Beard, Clarence Kea, Ken Johnson, Claude Riley, and Steve Trumbo. Soriano, with just six rounds played, is already in truly select company.

Candidate for most improved player of the season

Although it is premature to assess candidates for individual awards, it is undeniable that there have been some truly outstanding starts to the season. In the Liga Endesa, there is no official award for improvement, but Gigantes del Basket has its Male Most Improved Player award, which was given to Melwin Pantzar in 2026. The decision for the 2027 gala promises to be complicated given this season's start.

Theo Maledon leads the candidates with a jump of 14.7 points in rating (from 11.1 to 25.8). Jassel Pérez adds a 11.4-point improvement (from 11.6 to 23), while Soriano accumulates 10.8 points of progression (from 6.9 to 17.7). Dominik Mavra adds 7.7 points (from 10.7 to 18.4) and Francis Alonso 7.2 (from 13.8 to 21).

Among the top ten in rating, four players have experienced a significant jump compared to the previous season. For Maledon and Jassel Pérez, this is their ACB debut, but in this start of the season, they have already established themselves at the top, confirming themselves as emerging stars of the competition. The French guard Maledon is the main candidate to continue at this pace, although his potential to accumulate other awards could open the door to recognizing the progression of Obradoiro's center.

What is truly commendable about Soriano's performance is his personal transformation. He has transitioned from a disappointing spell in Zaragoza to becoming the highest-scoring center in the competition under Epi's guidance. This metamorphosis, combined with his historic numbers in offensive rebounding and his scoring consistency, positions him as one of the major discoveries of this season's start in the Liga Endesa.

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