The Roig Arena hosted the second chapter of a semifinal that began with one of the best playoff games. Valencia Basket and Joventut de Badalona faced off again just 48 hours after an unforgettable opener decided in overtime by a single point, leaving the orange team with a series advantage but also the sense that the matchup was far from settled.
Pedro Martínez's team struck first after surviving a maximum-intensity duel with constant back-and-forth action and an extremely high offensive pace. The 118-117 final score from the first game confirmed the excellent form of both teams and raised expectations even higher for this second matchup.
Valencia Basket seeks to capitalize on the home-court advantage again to travel to Badalona with a 2-0 lead that would put them one step away from the final. To do so, they will need to maintain the depth of their rotation and scoring ability that have made them one of the most reliable teams in the league throughout the season.
Facing them is a Joventut team that emerged strengthened despite the loss. Penya demonstrated personality, competitive character, and enough resources to challenge one of the title favorites. Led by the experience of Ricky Rubio and the talent of a roster that has continued to grow throughout the season, the green-and-blacks know that a win tonight would completely change the series landscape.
With the memory of Wednesday's battle still fresh and a spot in the final drawing ever closer, the Roig Arena prepares for another night of high tension. The second point is at stake and neither team seems willing to take a step back.
The unavailable players for this game were: López-Arostegui, Isaac Nogués, and Darius Thompson was on the roster but would not be considered for the game. Ante Tomic remained out due to injury for the Catalan team.
• Valencia Basket Starting Lineup: Jean Montero, Brancou Badio, Sergio De Larrea, Jaime Pradilla, and Neak Sako.
• Asisa Joventut Starting Lineup: Rubio, Hunt, Hanga, Parker, and Ruzic.
The first basket of the game came from Brancou Badio. However, Joventut's response was immediate and Ruzic tied the score just seconds later (2-2). Jaime Pradilla, with a 2+1, put the Valencians back ahead (5-2), while Jabbari Parker cut it close under the basket (5-4). The game started with a very high pace and both teams finding scoring opportunities with relative ease.
The first timeout came with 6:43 remaining in the first quarter. It was called by Dani Miret after Valencia Basket strung together an 8-0 run that was beginning to open up the gap. A layup by Sergio De Larrea put the score at 13-4 and forced the Joventut coach to stop the game to reorganize his team.
The orange team did not let up. Álvaro Cárdenas connected on two consecutive three-pointers and the home team's lead jumped to twelve points with four minutes left in the first quarter (19-7). Devon Dotson Hunt broke Joventut's scoring drought from the free-throw line (19-9), but Valencia's dominance was evident. Valencia Basket showed from the opening tip a much more solid version than the one displayed in the first game of the series, while the Catalan team was not finding the offensive fluidity shown last Wednesday. A genuine three-pointer by Jaime Pradilla at the buzzer closed the first quarter with a commanding 30-13. Neal Sako, Jaime Pradilla, and Álvaro Cárdenas, with six points each, led the home team's scoring. (30-13)
Brancou Badio opened the second quarter with a three-pointer from the wing (33-15), although Asisa Joventut tried to react in the early stages of the period. Two three-pointers from Hunt and several interior plays by Jabbari Parker allowed the visitors to stay alive and partially cut into the deficit.
As the minutes passed, Valencia Basket continued to control the game thanks to their offensive accuracy and the depth of their rotation. Although Pedro Martínez's team relied heavily on outside shooting at times, they always maintained a comfortable lead on the scoreboard. At halftime, the Valencian team was clearly dominating and forcing Joventut to deliver a nearly perfect second half to turn the game around. Jaime Pradilla, with 10 points, was the leading scorer for the home team, while Jabbari Parker led the green-and-blacks with 12. (56-43)
After the halftime break, the script barely changed. The protagonists returned to the Roig Arena floor and Kameron Taylor opened the third quarter with a three-pointer that allowed Valencia Basket to extend their lead even further.
The orange team's superiority continued to be evident throughout the third period. With four minutes left in the quarter, the Valencians were dominating by 22 points (73-51) and continuing a very serious performance on both sides of the court. It was not Joventut's night, unable to find answers to the pace and efficiency of the home team.
The game entered the final ten minutes with a clear 77-59 advantage for Valencia Basket. Brancou Badio, with 12 points, was the standout player for a Valencian team that had the second point of the series practically wrapped up. (77-59)
The final quarter took on a routine feel, with a lead that exceeded 20 points at various stages and a Joventut that, despite trying, never gave the impression they could get back into the game. The expressions on the visiting bench reflected that a comeback was a practically impossible task against a very solid Valencia Basket with the game completely under control.
Álvaro Cárdenas appeared again with another three-pointer to extend the lead to +23 with six minutes remaining (84-61). The orange point guard, one of the standout performers in this second semifinal game, also left his mark on a game in which he gained prominence as the minutes passed.
With four minutes left, Cárdenas fouled out, but he left the court to the ovation of the Roig Arena, which recognized his notable performance in this second semifinal matchup.
The final stretch served to confirm the home team's superiority and allow Pedro Martínez's squad to close out a much more comfortable victory than the first game. Valencia Basket thus puts the series on track with a 2-0 lead and travels to Badalona with the opportunity to clinch the series. The game's leading scorer was Senegalese shooting guard Brancou Badio, with 16 points, in a night when the orange team once again showed their best version. (90-76)
Valencia Basket strikes another blow and puts the semifinal well within reach after clearly defeating Joventut de Badalona in the second game of the series. After the enormous parity experienced in the first game, decided in overtime, Pedro Martínez's team gave no chance this time and dominated the matchup with authority to take a 2-0 lead before the series moves to Catalan territory.
The orange team will now travel to Badalona with the opportunity to close out the series this Sunday, when both teams face off again at the Palau Olímpic starting at 20:00. Just one win away from advancing, Valencia Basket is on the verge of returning for the second consecutive season to the Liga Endesa final, confirming the excellent level shown throughout the entire campaign.
Furthermore, the playoff landscape invites optimism in the Valencia camp. Real Madrid, last season's champions and the orange team's executioners in the 2025 final, is no longer part of the fight for the title, while the other semifinal remains open between Tenerife and Barcelona, with a provisional advantage for the Canary Islands team. Although important steps remain to be taken, Valencia Basket has positioned itself in a privileged position and is increasingly seeing the objective of competing for the championship within reach.