VALENCIA — Valencia Basket decisively defeated Río Breogán (105-88) in ACB play, with the orange squad's balanced scoring attack on full display. Four Valencia players scored in double figures, led by Dominican Jean Montero with 19 points at the Roig Arena.
Valencia Basket came out determined to establish control from the opening minutes. The return of Kameron Taylor, now recovered from injury, energized the home offense and helped build a quick 13-4 run fueled by high pace, three-pointers, and transition baskets that forced Río Breogán to respond immediately.
The Galician team's answer came off the bench. Three-pointers from Francis Alonso and Dibba allowed Río Breogán to stay engaged in a back-and-forth offensive exchange that cut the deficit to 31-25 by the end of the first quarter.
Riding that momentum, Luis Casimiro's team even pulled within one point after a quick 0-5 run capped by a Mavra three-pointer. However, that comeback sparked Valencia Basket back to life, responding with an 8-2 run highlighted by Josep Puerto's four-point play after converting a three-pointer and the resulting free throw. The orange squad stretched the lead to 14 points (51-37) heading into halftime.
After the break, Valencia Basket struck quickly. A three-point play from Nate Reuvers, a Badio three-pointer, and a Pradilla layup extended the lead to 16 points just one minute into the third quarter.
Río Breogán fought to stay alive, finding answers in Aranitovic, who scored eight consecutive points to energize his team. That run allowed the Galicians to cut the deficit to 67-58, prompting head coach Pedro Martínez to call a timeout.
The visiting team's comeback continued shortly after, with a Mavra steal and basket bringing Río Breogán within six points at one of the most critical moments for the home side. But just when the game seemed to open up again, Valencia Basket regained control late in the third quarter. A Josep Puerto steal and basket followed by a Costello 2+1 after blocking Cook gave the Valencia squad breathing room to close the period with an 84-73 advantage.
In the fourth quarter, Valencia Basket traded baskets with a Río Breogán team that kept believing thanks to three-pointers from Russell and Kurucs, who trimmed the deficit to seven points with five minutes remaining.
However, the Valencia squad responded with composure. An Omari Moore three-pointer and a Badio fast-break finish restored calm to the home crowd when the game was tightening (97-85, 35:00).
That decisive blow proved to be the turning point. Río Breogán lost offensive fluidity, began accumulating turnovers, and Valencia Basket capitalized to pull away decisively, surpassing the 100-point mark and closing out the game with a Yankuba Sima dunk for the final 105-88 score.
The victory reinforces Valencia Basket's offensive strength in the ACB, while Río Breogán continues fighting to add wins in the final stretch of the season.
105.- Valencia Basket (31+20+33+21): Thompson (6), Badio (14), Taylor (11), Pradilla (11), Reuvers (9) -starting five- Puerto (8), Key (9), Montero (17), Moore (5), Costello (7), Nogués (-), Sima (6).
88.- Río Breogán (25+16+32+15): Russell (10), Kurucs (5), Aranitovic (10), Andric (7), Sakho (2) -starting five-, Dibba (10), Cook (10), Apic (2), Alonso (8), Mavra (11), Brankovic (13), Quintela (-).