ATHENS, Greece – Andrés Feliz, Dominican point guard, led Real Madrid Baloncesto to the EuroLeague final after a resounding 105-90 victory over Valencia Basket.
Happy, coming off the bench, was fundamental in the triumph, accumulating 15 points, eight rebounds and three assists in just 20 minutes of play. His energy and control were key to consolidating the advantage of the merengue team.
On Valencia’s side, Jean Montero also had an outstanding performance in his farewell to the tournament, finishing with 15 points, nine assists and three steals, demonstrating the high level he maintained throughout the season.
A High-Intensity Offensive Match
The match began with a frenetic offensive pace, with both teams constantly exchanging the lead. Real Madrid initially took the lead, but Valencia responded, taking advantage of the absences of Edy Tavares and Alex Len in the Madrid paint.
Kameron Taylor was Valencia’s offensive figure, while Mario Hezonja led the response from the white team.
The first quarter ended 28-26 in favor of Valencia. However, Real Madrid changed the course of the game in the second period, scoring 36 points. The effectiveness from the three-point line and the fast transitions allowed Sergio Scariolo’s team to go into halftime with a 62-56 lead. This first half was historic, as both teams scored 118 points, the highest amount recorded in a Euroleague Final Four semifinal this century.
Happy and Campazzo: Pillars in the Victory
In the second half, Facundo Campazzo’s leadership and Andrés Feliz’s decisive contribution were crucial for Real Madrid to control the pace of the game.
The white team dominated the offensive rebounds, extending the lead to 13 points at the end of the third quarter, forcing Valencia to chase the score.
Despite Valencia’s reaction in the final quarter, driven by Montero, Real Madrid maintained their lead thanks to their experience and the excellent performance of Hezonja, who was the top scorer of the match with 23 points.
The negative note for Real Madrid was the injury of Usman Garuba, who had to leave the court, which caused concern in the team’s interior zone ahead of the final.
With this victory, Real Madrid will seek to expand its European legacy and win a new continental title in Athens.
