Valencia Basket swept the return of Bojan Dubljevic, Klemen Prepelic, Jaime Pradilla, Xabi López-Arostegui and Jasiel Rivero to the courts against one of the Eurocup’s roosters, Budućnost VOLI Podgorica, with whom they share a record in the competition ( 7-3) to be momentarily leader of group B ahead of Gran Canaria. A triumph that represents victory 162 in the competition, surpassing the historical record of Rubin Kazan (161) with a collective victory in which several proper names can be highlighted (Hermansson, Rivero, Tobey, Dubljevic, Van Rossom…) in the triple party at La Fonteta (14 of 24; closing the first half with 8 of 10 from the perimeter).
With everything on the field, the taronja started fine from the start. It all started certainly equal, with Pradilla and Reed exchanging blows in the paint, Cobbs and Micov showing off their class, and Neno and Hermansson penetrating, wasting talent in the first minutes. Until Dubljevic and ‘Papi’ Rivero entered to put on a show at La Fonteta, moving the ball judiciously and finding the free shots. Puerto, Dubi, Van Rossom and Labeyrie, already settled in the 3 position, with a 4 of 4 from the perimeter, broke the trend. The party was starting.
Van Rossom, after a spectacular assist from Prepelic, continued the show in the second quarter. Dubi had no mercy against his training team to put the +13, of course, from the triple (6 of 6). Rivero, come above, would cut the trend from 6.75. Only the flights of Reed, who had a collision with the stands of La Fonteta every time he went to the line, and a flash of Micov offered a certain attitude of resistance; with Cobb neutralized by the defensive network of Joan Peñarroya. The first half bordered on excellence. Despite the fact that Micov, with a circus triple, left the match with 20 points (53-33).
The passage through locker rooms calmed the waters and cut the trend in the triple (8 of 10 in the first act). Seeley and Jagodic-Kuridza rolled up their sleeves to keep Budućnost alive in the match (13-18 trend), forcing Peñarroya to intervene. Despite the efforts of Aleksandar Dzikic’s men, the distance remained at +15. Jasiel Rivero, with eight points, began to wreak havoc in the paint. However, the triples did not enter and began to muddy the immaculate statistics. Until Hermansson reappeared from the corner at the buzzer to close the third quarter with a 20-point difference (75-55). The 100 points, in sight.
Hermansson dominated the game from penetration and even defense over Cobbs, who, however, began to produce for his personal locker in the inconsequential final minutes of the game. Meanwhile, River and López-Arostegui joined the triple party (only Pradilla and Dimitrijevic were left without scoring) to row until the hundred. Labeyrie, stepping on the line, managed to overcome the barrier. The nail left the round figure of 100 points. Prepelic put the finishing touch to the game… with a triple. He crowns for Valencia Basket in the competition. The Kings of the Eurocup.
