Leyma Coruña is now an ACB team. The Galician side secured their return to Spain's top basketball division on Sunday, just one year after relegation, defeating Movistar Estudiantes 97-100 in an unforgettable matchup resolved by a spectacular fourth-quarter comeback and overtime in which the Galicians once again demonstrated their competitive character.
The team coached by Carles Marco found their reward for an outstanding season in a final that seemed to slip away at times. They found themselves down by fifteen points in the decisive stretch of the game, but reacted when they needed it most to complete one of the most important victories in the club's recent history.
The start was marked by the tension typical of a promotion playoff final. Both teams exchanged mistakes and strong defensive plays during a low-scoring first quarter in which Leyma Coruña managed to impose their pace and close the opening ten minutes with an advantage.
The game gained offensive fluidity in the second period. Estudiantes found points through Francis Alonso Silverio and Jayson Granger, while the Galician side responded with three-point accuracy from Jacobo Díaz and Didac Cuevas. The Madrid team also found an important scoring source from the free-throw line, which allowed them to stay in the game despite Galician resistance. A final favorable play for the home side left the matchup wide open at halftime.
After the break came Estudiantes' best moment. The Madrid side elevated their offensive level, found comfortable perimeter shots, and punished the visiting defense time and again. Jayson Granger took control of the offense and led an attack that allowed the Madrid side to open an eight-point lead by the end of the third quarter.
The situation became even more complicated for the Coruña side in the final period. Estudiantes reached a fifteen-point advantage and seemed to have promotion within reach. However, Leyma Coruña once again demonstrated the personality that has accompanied them throughout the season.
Point by point, possession by possession, the Galicians reduced the deficit until placing all the pressure on the Madrid team. Pacheco orchestrated the decisive plays that allowed them to tie the game in the final minute and force an overtime that seemed impossible just minutes before.
With momentum now on their side, Leyma Coruña faced the extra period with absolute confidence. That's when a player accustomed to taking responsibility in important moments appeared. Jorgensen took control of the game and strung together eight consecutive points to give the visitors their first clear advantages of overtime.
Estudiantes tried to respond and stay alive until the end, but the Galician side managed the final possessions better and preserved an advantage that proved decisive.
When the final buzzer sounded, players, coaching staff, and traveling fans could celebrate a long-sought promotion.
The final 97-100 score put the finishing touch on an extraordinary campaign for Leyma Coruña. A team that lost only four games throughout the entire season and found in this final the perfect reflection of their identity: resilience, competitive character, and the ability to rise even in the most difficult moments.
One year after leaving the ACB, Galician basketball returns to the elite. And it does so after a night that will remain forever in the memory of the Coliseum and the entire city.