Real Madrid was crowned champion of the Endesa League by defeating Valencia Basket with a score of 70-81 in the third game of the final. The match, held at the Fonteta, marked the last official game of Valencia Basket in this municipal facility that has been their home since 1987. The team led by Chus Mateo, after winning the first two matches at the Movistar Arena in Madrid, secured their sixteenth ACB title. Adding the titles since the creation of the competition in 1983 and the former National League, Real Madrid has a total of 38 championships. For Valencia Basket, the defeat meant the closure of 1,007 official matches of its men’s team at the Fonteta, a pavilion to which they moved in the 1987-88 season and which they will leave this summer to move to the Roig Arena. Valencia Basket sought the support of its fans, aware that this could be their last game at the Fonteta.
The Party
The Valencia Basket started the game with three-pointers and looking for the offensive rebound. However, their low three-point shooting percentage allowed Real Madrid to take the lead. Facu Campazzo, named MVP of the final, led Real Madrid with skill. Sergio Llull, with a unsportsmanlike foul and a technical foul, animated the Fonteta, giving points and energy to Valencia Basket (19-23, m.10). Llull, although he caused problems, also contributed with triples to support his team. Fernando stood out on both hoops, extending the visiting lead. Xabi López-Arostegui gave the Valencia team direction, which went ahead on the scoreboard at halftime (40-39, m.20). In the restart, Real Madrid regained the lead and entered the final quarter with an eleven-point difference, while the home team was affected by refereeing decisions. The Valencia tried to close the gap, but Real Madrid, with its towers, prevented the comeback, denying them accuracy from afar and access to the hoop.Technical Sheet:
70 – Valencia Basket (19+21+9+21): Montero (12), Badio (2), Puerto (6), Pradilla (-), Reuvers (7) -starting five- De Larrea (-), Jovic (-), Jones (10), López-Arostegui (13), Sestina (5), Costello (5) and Soriano (10).
81 – Real Madrid (23+16+21+21): Campazzo (9), Abalde (9), Hezonja (16), Ndiaye (3), Tavares (7) -starting five- Feliz (4), Musa (7), Garuba (2), Fernando (13) and Llull (11).
Referees: Peruga, Aliaga and Sánchez-Sixto. No eliminations.
