Surne Bilbao Advances to FIBA Europe Cup Final with 95-88 Victory Over Falco Szombathely

BILBAO — Surne Bilbao Basket defeated Falco KC Szombathely 95-88 in the FIBA Europe Cup semifinals second leg, securing their spot in the tournament final and earning a second consecutive appearance in the title race. The Basque side, which held a 17-point advantage from the first leg in Hungary, confirmed their superiority at Bilbao Arena with another solid, balanced performance.

The game started with a brief scare for Surne Bilbao Basket, as Falco Szombathely opened with a 0-4 run that seemed to suggest an uncomfortable start for the home team. However, the reaction was immediate. Krampelj and Hlinason took charge in the paint and helped Jaume Ponsarnau's squad quickly turn the score around.

From 8-9 in the fourth minute, Surne Bilbao Basket took control of the game. The Basque side began imposing their offensive pace and closed the first quarter with a solid lead (23-17). Meanwhile, Falco Szombathely stayed in the contest thanks to the work of point guard Peterson and center Keller.

During the second quarter, Surne Bilbao Basket gradually extended their advantage. With constant rotations and contributions from the bench, the Bilbao side managed leads that ranged between three and eleven points. A three-pointer by Hilliard in the final moments left the score at 48-37 at halftime, consolidating control of the game in this FIBA Europe Cup semifinal.

After the break, Falco Szombathely responded with pride. The Hungarian team elevated their offensive intensity led by Zoltan Pearl, who took on scoring responsibility. Thanks to their push, the visitors managed to tie the score (58-58 in the 26th minute) and momentarily reopen the game.

Surne Bilbao Basket's response came quickly. Normantas and Jaworski punished from beyond the arc to return the initiative to the home side, although the Hungarian squad still found the strength to go ahead 66-67 with 14 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

When the moment became more delicate, Jaworski appeared with a three-pointer at the buzzer that returned control to Surne Bilbao Basket before the final period. In the last ten minutes, with the series practically decided by the accumulated advantage, the game became a battle for victory in the matchday.

The Basque side maintained control in the decisive moments and finished winning 95-88, securing another victory over Falco Szombathely in this FIBA Europe Cup semifinal.

On an individual level, Krampelj led Surne Bilbao Basket with 16 points and 3 rebounds, followed by Pantzar with 15 points, while Petrasek contributed 14 points and 5 rebounds. Jaworski also stood out with 12 points and Normantas with 9 in a balanced performance by the Basque side.

For Falco Szombathely, the standout player was Zoltan Pearl, who finished with 18 points and 5 assists, accompanied by Novakovic with 15 points and Peterson with 11.

With this victory in the FIBA Europe Cup, Surne Bilbao Basket, the defending champions of the tournament, reach their second consecutive final and confirm their strong competitive form in the decisive stretch of the season.