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abr 25 2026The two top-seeded teams in the ACB League (Real Madrid and Valencia Basket) faced off for the fifth time this season. A packed Roig Arena displayed the 'sold out' sign once again for another regular season ACB League matchup.
Valencia Basket had their minds partly on the two opening EuroLeague playoff games against Panathinaikos at the Roig Arena on Tuesday and Thursday. Meanwhile, Sergio Scariolo's Real Madrid squad also had two crucial EuroLeague playoff matchups against Hapoel Tel Aviv, with their first two games of the series scheduled for next Tuesday and Thursday.
The head-to-head record this season stood at 3-2 in favor of the white team. Pedro Martínez's Valencia won the first two (the Supercopa final and EuroLeague Matchday 10), but from there on, Real Madrid found their rhythm, winning the next three (the most painful for the 'taronja' fans being the legendary Copa del Rey semifinal in Valencia).
• Valencia Basket starting lineup: Brancou Badio, Darius Thompson, Kameron Taylor, Braxton Key, and Neal Sako.
• Real Madrid starting lineup: Facundo Campazzo, Mario Hezonja, Alberto Abalde, Chuma Okeke, and Edy Tavares.
Valencia Basket's unavailable players were: Omari Moore, Xabi López-Arostegui, and Jaime Pradilla due to injury.
Facundo Campazzo scored the game's opening basket with a layup on Real Madrid's first possession (0-2). Alberto Abalde, a former Valencia Basket player, hit the first three-pointer of the game (0-5). For Valencia Basket, Kameron Taylor scored their first points (2-7), and Matt Costello hit the first three-pointer for the 'taronja' (7-10). Without a doubt, the opening five minutes featured plenty of excitement and back-and-forth scoring.
The second stretch of the first quarter remained tight in terms of level. Valencia Basket regrouped after the first timeout and managed to close the gap (19-22).
Kameron Taylor gave Valencia their first lead with a corner three-pointer (27-26). Sergio Scariolo had to call a timeout after seeing the Valencians flip the scoreboard in their favor.
As minutes passed, the score remained close at the Roig Arena, with the scoring pace slowing down. Mario Hezonja silenced the crowd with a straight-on three-pointer (38-40), and on the next play, the Croatian stole the ball and assisted Andrés Feliz (38-42).
The end of the first half wasn't the most polished or entertaining, with few points scored in the final minutes as both teams saved their best for the second half. Edy Tavares, with 10 points, was the game's leading scorer at that point (41-45).
Neal Sako scored the first basket of the second half, and seconds later Mario Hezonja answered (43-47).
Pedro Martínez had to call a timeout with 8 minutes remaining in the third quarter, trailing by 12 points (43-55). A solid Real Madrid, led by Mario Hezonja with 17 points, was leaving the home team with few options, as they appeared to have their minds on next week's EuroLeague games.
But this is basketball, and everything can change in minutes. As time passed, Real Madrid began to falter, squandering a 13-point lead. Valencia Basket cut it to 4 with four minutes left, and two consecutive three-pointers, aided by a poor Real Madrid turnover, tied the game. Sergio Scariolo had to call timeout (56-60).
After the timeout, Edy Tavares put on his 'MVP' cape, scoring two straight baskets and adding a block in between (56-64). Josep Puerto hit a corner three-pointer to bring his team closer (60-66), but Real Madrid quickly countered on the break. Facundo Campazzo hit a massive three-pointer to extend the lead, +12 for Madrid. Mario Hezonja, with 17 points, was the most impactful player (63-75).
The final quarter began with a +12 advantage for the visitors and maintained a similar dynamic to the rest of the game, with Madrid superior, especially in the paint, refusing to yield to Valencia Basket's comeback attempts.
Edy Tavares, with 18 points and 12 rebounds, was the game's best player (82-96).
A somewhat mediocre performance from Valencia Basket, who practically had no chance against a correct and organized Real Madrid. Sergio Scariolo's team appears to have found the formula to neutralize Valencia Basket's style of play, which posed little threat to Madrid's defense.
With their focus already on EuroLeague action, Valencia Basket will host Panathinaikos on Tuesday and Thursday (20:45) to begin their playoff series. In theory, it's an evenly matched best-of-five series, with the winner advancing to the Final Four to be held in Athens.
