Liga Endesa Matchday 1 Recap: Lleida Stuns Valencia, Obradoiro Returns with Victory

Liga Endesa kicked off with three games decided in the final possession, high-scoring affairs, and an unexpected upset at the Roig Arena. Obradoiro made a triumphant return to the top flight.

Obradoiro's Return

MoraBanc Andorra 85-90 Monbus Obradoiro. Two years later, Obradoiro is back in Liga Endesa and they did it with a road victory. The start was brutal—14-2 in five minutes and down thirteen—but the team recovered from the second quarter and completed the comeback in the fourth. Brandon Childress posted 18 points and a 20 rating, closing the game with a three-pointer. Joel Soriano dominated the paint with 15 points and Efe Abogidi made his debut.

The Upset of the Day

Valencia 100-105 iLerna Lleida. Lleida started 0-10 in the first two minutes, dominated most of the game, and held off every local comeback attempt in the Final Four runners-up's league debut. They did it, moreover, in the week they lost Atoumane Diagne for the entire season to an ACL tear.

Nail-Biters

La Laguna Tenerife 80-81 Casademont Zaragoza. Blumbergs blocked and grabbed the rebound, and Justin Jaworski scored with six-tenths of a second left. Casademont led by ten, collapsed, and came back with two three-pointers from Jaworski and another from Guillem Vives.

San Pablo Burgos 97-98 Kosner Baskonia. The home team led 93-84 with just over two minutes remaining. AJ Lawson tied it, Damion Baugh decided it with a 2+1, and DJ Steward missed the final shot with thirteen seconds left.

Real Madrid 89-87 Unicaja. Pedro Martínez's ACB debut with a comeback. Madrid trailed by six entering the fourth quarter and a three-pointer from Campazzo tied it with three minutes left. Theo Maledon led with 17 points and 7 assists; Willy Hernangómez posted 20 and 6 for Málaga.

High-Scoring Affairs

FC Barcelona 119-101 Leyma Coruña. Two hundred twenty points at the Palau. Olek Balcerowski posted 21 points and a 30 rating, but the newly promoted side got within three in the third quarter with three straight three-pointers from Guillem Jou.

Río Breogán 110-104 Asisa Joventut. A guard of honor for the Supercopa champions and a Lugo victory in a runaway affair. Penya arrived in Lugo without Tomic, Sulejmanovic, or Kraag.

Surne Bilbao 107-92 Kids&Us Manresa. Bilbao picked up where they left off in the preseason. Darrun Hilliard posted 19 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds, and the game got out of hand in the third quarter.

And One More

FIATC Girona 84-77 UCAM Murcia. A low-scoring affair decided by an 11-0 run in the fourth quarter. Jassel Pérez led with 20 points, nine rebounds, and a 30 rating. UCAM shot just 34% from the field.

Standings After Matchday 1

1-0: Río Breogán, FC Barcelona, Surne Bilbao, Real Madrid, Monbus Obradoiro, iLerna Lleida, Kosner Baskonia, FIATC Girona, and Casademont Zaragoza

0-1: Asisa Joventut, Leyma Coruña, Kids&Us Manresa, Unicaja, MoraBanc Andorra, Valencia Basket, San Pablo Burgos, UCAM Murcia, and La Laguna Tenerife