Following a EuroLeague victory over Rapid Bucharest, Valencia Basket faced Celta with renewed energy. The Valencian side held third place in LF Endesa, behind only Azulmarino and Casademont Zaragoza. Meanwhile, Celta had struggled upon returning to the top division with a 0-5 record, matching Araski's start, though talented players like Marina Gea, Deva Bermejo, María Gakdeng, and Emma Ronsiek showed promise.
First Quarter: 22-17
The home team took the court with: Alexis Peterson, Virag Takács-Kiss, Elizabeth Balogun, Elena Buenavida, and María Araújo. Crisina Cantero's squad started with: María Gakdeng, Clémentine Samson, Tova Sabel, Emma Ronsiek, and Leslie Vorpahl. Valencia Basket opened with a devastating opening stretch: 7-2 with baskets from Balogun, Buenavida, and Peterson, only matched by a single basket from Leslie Vorpahl. Shortly after, Gakdeng's points helped Celta recover. Valencia pulled away again, and Torralba began rotating in Bibby, Marta Suárez, and Raquel Carrera. Cantero opted for a more conservative approach without drastically altering her initial game plan.
Despite Valencia's clear rebounding advantage, particularly on the offensive glass (4 in seven minutes), the Galician side maintained solid defensive integrity. A three-pointer from deep by Deva Bermejo tied the game at 15-15 with 2:42 remaining in the first quarter. Balogun quickly countered with a successful three-pointer, and when Valencia sensed blood, they pushed forward: two free throws from Isa Hernández and a layup from Borkowska extended the lead to +7. Salinas stopped the 7-0 run, and after solid defense, the first quarter ended with Valencia leading 22-17.
Second Quarter: 39-30
Samson and Takács-Kiss opened the scoring, bringing rhythm immediately upon returning to the court. The French player from Celta drove the visitors forward with a three-point play and several consecutive strong defensive possessions. To maximize her impact, Cantero brought in Deva Bermejo to pair both on the perimeter. The Catalan's impact was immediate: a completely lopsided three-point play, showcasing her considerable talent at the Roig Arena.
Just when Celta was playing well, Valencia stepped up. A basket from Isa Hernández was the final straw. Cantero called timeout with the score at 32-26 to adjust, particularly on defense. The comeback hinged on Bermejo. The Catalan drew a disruptive foul from Elena Buenavida and converted both free throws. After two more points from Bermejo (totaling nine), complete with a crossover, Torralba called timeout: 32-29 with less than 4 minutes remaining. After a final basket from Takács-Kiss capping Valencia's strong run, the teams went to halftime with Valencia leading 39-30.
Third Quarter: 60-32
After two minutes of the third quarter, Valencia showed their superiority. Takács-Kiss and Alexis Peterson-Smalls scored, pushing the lead past 10. Cantero called timeout at 43-30. The run kept growing, and despite Celta's efforts to stem the tide, they couldn't score or stop Valencia's lethal offense. The lead ballooned to 16-0, only cut short by a basket from Deva Bermejo. Valencia's dominance was devastating, starkly contrasting with their solid first-half performance. The result was nearly insurmountable: 58-32. After a three-pointer from Pueyo and a Peterson basket at the buzzer, the final quarter arrived at the Roig Arena: 60-32 (the quarter's run was 21-2).
Fourth Quarter: 81-52
Eager to make a statement, Celta started the final quarter with more intensity. Sabel scored off penetration and Bermejo maintained her sharpness, adding a total of 13 points to her tally. After five minutes, Valencia continued imposing their will with a crushing 73-40 lead. The final minutes saw reduced pace, with Celta attempting to compete by stepping up defensively, though without success. The match concluded with a Valencia victory of 81-52, with Hungarian center Virag Takács-Kiss earning MVP honors with 13 points and 12 rebounds.