Obradoiro Falls to Valencia (95-108) in Rough Shooting Night

Monbus Obradoiro missed out on a spot in the EncestaRías final after losing to Valencia Basket. Despite scoring 95 points, the team suffered a 13-point defeat: the problem came in the first twenty minutes, when the team's two primary shooters couldn't find the basket and the opponent had already built a 28-point lead.

The first-half hole

Barcello and Barrueta reached halftime with a combined 1-of-11 shooting from three-point range. For a team that relies heavily on generating advantages through outside shooting, that stat is enough to explain the 28-56 halftime score.

Valencia, meanwhile, did what it does best. With a roster and bench almost completely overhauled, the team maintains its commitment to fast-paced basketball, and in the first quarter it found five more rebounds than its opponent, distributed seven assists, and committed just one turnover. The opening 15-28 was a direct consequence of that control differential.

When Obradoiro ran, it competed

The pattern repeated itself the three times Diego Epifanio's team got close. Solid defense, recovery, and scoring in the first seconds of possession. That's how it cut the deficit to single digits in the second quarter, and that's how it did it again in the third, getting within eleven after a Meindl basket-plus-one.

The problem appeared as soon as the game slowed down. With longer possessions, Santiago's offense didn't generate good shooting positions and ended up forcing shots. And Valencia, which punishes in multiple ways—transition, pick-and-roll continuations, open shooters—never got nervous. A steal by Cárdenas on Agada in a fast break and a subsequent three-pointer by Corbalán nipped the home team's best moment in the bud. Third quarter closed at 61-81.

The final period changed nothing.

What Santiago did take away

The two most recent players on the roster were also the most reliable. Leo Meindl, in his debut, finished as the team's leading scorer with 14 points, attacking the rim with verticality. Joel Soriano added 10, with presence on the boards and a good touch from mid-range.

The rest of the scoring was distributed: Agada 13, Brito 12, and Quintela 11.

The roster still incomplete

It's worth emphasizing the context, as it shapes any reading of the game. Obradoiro is still waiting for Efe Abogidi to arrive. Brandon Childress is already training with the group but didn't play, and his return is important for what he brings in scoring and playmaking. And Álex Galán, who started, was forced out by an injury in the opening minutes and didn't return.