Valencia Basket Dominates Barcelona to Even Finals Series Before Moving to Palau (102-75)

The orange squad takes the second game of the series after controlling the Catalan team throughout the entire matchup. Jean Montero led his team again with 19 points, 6 assists, and a rating of 26.

Box Score

Valencia Basket dominated the second game of the Liga Endesa Finals and swept the Barcelona squad to tie the series at one-all before the series moves to Palau Blaugrana, following the two games hosted at Roig Arena. Jean Montero continues to be the leader of this team. Today, he finished with a rating of 26.

In need of a win after their Thursday loss, Pedro Martínez's team dominated the game from start to finish and, although Laprovittola's appearances created problems for them, they managed to stay calm and take advantage of his absences to build their lead until, when the Argentine entered for the first time after halftime, Valencia Basket's onslaught could no longer be contained. Dominican Jean Montero was once again their main offensive reference, well-supported by Braxton Key.

The game started with a defensive showcase from which Valencia Basket emerged victorious. Intense and focused until the last second of every Barcelona possession, they held them scoreless for more than five minutes. On the other end, Xavi Pascual's squad couldn't sustain their effort for as long, and the home team, patient, managed to score near the basket, though not without difficulty (11-0, min. 6).

Pascual couldn't hold back the Laprovittola card any longer. The Argentine's presence clarified the visiting team's offensive ideas and with Jan Vesely's mid-range shot and Joel Parra's off-ball work, Barcelona began to find their rhythm.

When it seemed the momentum was equalizing, the appearance of reserve Yankuba Sima, who recorded 7 points and 3 rebounds in just two minutes, and a Montero basket at the end of the quarter allowed Valencia to open up a gap (26-11, min. 10).

Pedro Martínez adjusted with Kam Taylor on Laprovittola to slow his growth, Pascual protected him from fatigue by benching him, and the Catalan team stalled. But Valencia Basket's rotation left them without scoring options and the Blaugrana defense continued to deny them three-point opportunities. For several minutes, the scoreboard barely moved.

But that scenario left the home team ahead and, seeing he had no other option, Pascual brought the Argentine back to the court. Once again, his presence changed the game. He scored and distributed, his play created 'panic' in the home defense, and managed to reduce the orange lead, which had reached 17 and was 13 when he entered with four minutes remaining, dramatically (45-38, min. 20).

Pascual extended Laprovittola's rest in the second half but a 5-0 run and three and a half minutes without scoring forced him to change plans. But three three-pointers, which he had barely been able to enjoy in the first half, gave Valencia Basket momentum and, frustrated after missing a layup, the Argentine gave away his third foul.

The home team's lead skyrocketed in the blink of an eye to beyond twenty points and a determined Matt Costello crushed Barcelona's morale. It remained to be seen how the Catalan squad would respond, with the third game already scheduled for Monday. Pascual's decision to bench Laprovittola and not use him again was a clear signal.

Shengelia and Darío Brizuela tried to keep their team's hopes alive but two three-pointers from Omari Moore robbed them of what little faith they had left. The home team's three-pointers pushed their lead to around thirty points.

Barcelona's frustration was reflected in a technical foul on a Punter who disappeared from the scoring after the American chained an unsportsmanlike foul and a technical, to which another was added to the bench. Another Barcelona reference like Will Clyburn also failed to show up.

With the game decided and Roig Arena on fire, Pedro Martínez took the opportunity to give Josep Puerto five minutes, who hadn't played in more than a month and a half after suffering an ankle sprain followed by a viral illness. The home coach was also already thinking about the upcoming games and that he might need him.

- Box Score:

102.- Valencia Basket (26+19+29+28): Badio (7), Montero (19), Taylor (5), Key (15), Sako (4) -starting five- De Larrea (10), Cárdenas (2), Moore (11), Puerto (2), Pradilla (10), Costello (8) and Sima (9).

75.- Barcelona (11+27+14+23): Marcos (-), Punter (2), Clyburn (2), Shengelia (9), Fall (3) -starting five- Cale (5), Vesely (7), Brizuela (10), Hernangómez (3), Satoransky (4), Laprovittola (14) and Parra (16).