Leyma Básquet Coruña is the champion of Galicia. They defeated Río Breogán 102-93 in the Galicia Cup final played this Sunday at Fontes do Sar, in a game they controlled from the first quarter and in which they led by as many as twenty-five points. It is the second title in their history, and the first in three decades.
How It Was Built
The opening set the tone. Alonzo Verge attacked the paint from the first minute and Breogán responded from beyond the arc, until seven consecutive points from Danko Brankovic tightened the score. George Conditt got his team back on track and, with Guillem Jou, Verge, Dmytro Skapintsev and Tomas Dimsa contributing, the first quarter closed at 25-20.
The second period was when they pulled away. Lukas Uleckas, quiet early on, caught fire after the restart and bombarded from three-point range alongside Dimsa to make it 31-20. The connection between Verge and Conditt pushed the score to 36-23 and forced Luis Casimiro to call a timeout. The Lucense side cut it to ten (40-30), but a three-pointer from Caio Pacheco and a basket-plus-foul from Uleckas left it 48-37 at halftime.
The Third Quarter That Sealed It
The verdict came after the break. Paul Jorgensen opened the second half scoring and Verge delivered the play of the game: a three-pointer from well beyond the arc while falling down, with a foul, which he also made from the free throw line. Four points from a single possession to make it 54-39.
From there it was a steamroll. Dídac Cuevas and Jou stepped up, Jorgensen strung together his best minutes and the lead ballooned to 72-50. Conditt recorded a couple of blocks that energized the crowd and Skapintsev reached ten personal points to make it 77-58.
In the final quarter, Jorgensen emerged as the decisive force, taking control and leading his team to 90-65 with help from Conditt, Verge and Skapintsev. Leyma surpassed one hundred points with a dunk from Conditt and, although Breogán pressed late, the margin was already insurmountable.
What the Title Leaves Behind
Beyond the trophy, the final provided useful lessons three weeks before the league season begins. Verge was the tournament's best player and is on his way to becoming the leader of the ACB project. And two of the newcomers, Conditt and Skapintsev, began to find their rhythm in the game that most resembled real competition.
The detail is not insignificant: the two of them, along with Silins, were the interior players unavailable that left Leyma with only two centers available in the friendly in Palencia a week ago. With them in the lineup, the team looks completely different.
For Breogán, meanwhile, this is the first setback of the summer after three consecutive victories against Sporting Portugal, Real Madrid and KK Mega Basket.