Spagnolo Punishes Former Team as Baskonia Reaches Pontevedra Final, 101-99

Kosner Baskonia secured a prestigious victory over Alba Berlin (101-99) in the EncestaRías Trophy semifinal in Pontevedra, doing so under difficult circumstances: limited game time, numerous absences, and a depleted frontcourt that finished the game without a single center on the floor.

A cold start and a defensive reaction

The first quarter made clear the difference in preparation between both teams. Alba shared the ball much better, always looked for the extra pass and found comfortable situations until reaching 30 points too easily (20-30). Baskonia, meanwhile, relied almost always on individual actions from its perimeter players.

Starting in the second quarter came the reaction, and it came from the defense. The Vitoria team got more hands in, raised the physical intensity and in offense became very vertical, forcing fouls and repeatedly going to the free throw line. They won that period 26-18 and also the third 36-29 to reach the final quarter with an advantage.

Without centers and holding on to the final shot

The paint was a problem all night. With few available players, Paolo Galbiati had to rely for many minutes on young Thierry Henry, whose inexperience was exposed against centers like Brandon Angel. His elimination by fouls in the 25th minute left the zone even more depleted, and in the final quarter Kenneth Faried also fouled out.

Even so, the team held on. First with AJ Lawson and then with a very sharp Clément Frisch, who finished with a double-double—18 points and 10 rebounds—and a perfect 6 of 6 from two-point range.

The ending had a protagonist with history. Matteo Spagnolo, a former Alba player, chained a three-pointer, a two-point basket and a free throw in the final moments that paved the way for victory. The Germans still had the ball to win, but Hermannsson's three-pointer at the buzzer, well defended, bounced off the rim.

What the game showed

Among the new faces there was everything. Lawson was the leading scorer with 19 points. Duarte alternated accuracy with anxiety and avoidable turnovers, and suffered a spectacular fall in the second quarter that could have ended worse, though he was able to continue playing. Stewart showed flashes in penetration and Baugh focused more on running the offense than looking to score.

Faried's debut invites optimism if his body responds: he was very active on both ends of the floor, played the pick-and-roll well and intimidated several rival attacks. Simmons joined the absences for this game.

Despite everything, the identity from last season is maintained: high pace, quick-strike offenses and running whenever possible. Saturday brings the final, against the winner of the other semifinal between Valencia Basket and Monbus Obradoiro.

Kosner Baskonia: Baugh (4), Duarte (8), Stewart (12), Frisch (18), Faried (13) —starting five—; Lawson (19), Kurucs (11), Spagnolo (10), Pedrinho (-), Thierry Henry (2) and Ngouama (4)

Alba Berlin: Ford (7), Delow (10), Kayil (9), Bean (7), Angel (19) —starting five—; Griesel (15), Mattisseck (3), Wieskamp (15), Hermannsson (6), Agbakoko (8), Bennefeld (-) and Böhmer (-)