Montero And Pradilla, Heroes In An End Of Heart Attack

Valencia Basket Strikes First in an Epic Semifinal Against Joventut: Montero and Pradilla, Heroes in a Heart Attack Final

The Taronja team won by the minimum in a vibrant match that was decided in extra time, with stellar performances by Montero and Rubio.

The Roig Arena witnessed a real great game to open the semi-final of the Endesa League. Valencia Basket achieved the first point of the series against an Asisa Joventut team that sold its defeat dearly. Dani Miret's team displayed an intensity and success worthy of praise during much of the match, but the cold blood of Jaime Pradilla and Jean Montero in the decisive moments, added to a final taronja arreón, condemned the green-and-blacks to a 0-1 loss.

The individual duel between Jean Montero and Ricky Rubio was a spectacle apart. The Dominican, with a stellar performance, went to the 27 points and 8 assistsdemonstrating his great moment of form. For his part, the veteran point guard from El Masnou signed a double-double of 22 points and 11 assistsleading his team with mastery.

The match began with the expected equality, reflecting the intensity seen in Joventut's previous tie against Baskonia. Miret's team came out with very clear ideas, finding free shots and generating danger in the paint. The outside success of players like Adam Hanga and Ludde Hakanson, who had an outstanding first quarter, was key. Valencia Basket, with a larger rotation and the setback of Nate Reuvers' injury, could not impose its rhythm. However, the individual talent of their players, with widely distributed scoring, began to make a difference. The defensive impact of Neal Sako, with two crucial blocks, led to a basket on the counterattack by Montero, who already had seven points and left the score at a tight 26-22 at the end of the first quarter.

Jean Montero, visibly confident, led Valencia Basket to its largest lead to that point. Some free throws by Álvaro Cárdenas made it 43-32, taking advantage of a moment of Penya's offensive disconnection. De Larrea and Kam's defensive work on Ricky Rubio was paying off.

Faced with the Valencian offensive, Joventut reacted with new defensive proposals, including zones, which had an effect. A 1-10 run, led by Parker, Hakanson and finally Ricky Rubio, tightened the score to 43-42. A timeout by Pedro Martínez did not stop the visiting inertia. Montero lost the ball, Hakanson scored his third triple of the night, and the set was extended to 1-13, turning the score around (43-45). Joventut went into halftime with a slight advantage (51-54) after a spectacular second quarter, scoring 32 points, with a success from 6 of 10 in triples.

At the restart, Valencia Basket needed to take a step forward. Pedro Martínez's men applied themselves, but Joventut was still fully involved in the game. Two triples by Jabari Parker kept the visitors ahead (71-73), while their insistence in the paint allowed them to remain very alive. A third triple by Parker made it 74-78, but the end of the quarter saw Valencia Basket come back thanks to points from Pradilla and a 2+1 from Montero, to close the period with an advantage (79-78).

The last quarter began with a stellar Ricky Rubio, accompanied by Hakanson and Parker, who seemed unstoppable from the perimeter. Joventut reached its maximum advantage (83-91) with six minutes remaining. Valencia Basket found itself in a situation similar to the one it experienced recently against Surne Bilbao Basket: uncomfortable, against an unapologetic and very successful rival.

The entry of Jean Montero revitalized the Taronja team, and a triple by Omari Moore reduced the difference to 91-95 with four minutes remaining. From there, a constant exchange of great offensive actions led to a very tight finale and a real spectacle.

A 2+1 by Cameron Hunt with 38 seconds left made it 102-105, with the possibility of extending the lead to four points. Hunt missed the extra free throw, and Jaime Pradilla, after a long possession, scored a three-pointer from the corner to tie the game at 105. Joventut had the last possession, but failed to score, forcing overtime.

In extra time, Ricky Rubio took the reins of Penya, while figures like Costello, Pradilla and Taylor emerged in Valencia Basket. Despite the high scoring pace, neither team was able to get away on the scoreboard.

Rubio scored a triple that made it 114-115, and Montero responded with a layup. Later, Simon Birgander, assisted by Rubio, established the score at 116-117. Montero forced a foul on Parker and did not miss any of his two free throws, returning the advantage to Valencia Basket (118-117). With 7.4 seconds left, Dani Miret called a timeout to engineer the final possession, which ended with Hunt's attempt to the hoop missing its target.

Match Statistics:

Featured Scorers:

• Jean Montero (Valencia Basket): 27 points
• Ricky Rubio (Asisa Joventut): 22 points
• Cameron Hunt (Asisa Joventut): 19 points
• Jabari Parker (Asisa Joventut): 19 points
• Chris Jones (Valencia Basket): 15 points

Incidents: First match of the Endesa League semi-final played at the Roig Arena in València in front of 12,910 spectators.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Who was the top scorer of the game?

Jean Montero, from Valencia Basket, was the top scorer with 27 points.

How did the match end?

The match ended with a victory for Valencia Basket by 118-117 after extra time.

What was the result at the end of regulation time?

The score was tied at 105 points at the end of regulation, forcing overtime.

Which players stood out in Joventut?

Ricky Rubio with 22 points and 11 assists, Cameron Hunt and Jabari Parker with 19 points each, were the most outstanding players for Joventut.

How many points did Ricky Rubio score?

Ricky Rubio scored 22 points.

How many assists did Ricky Rubio give?

Ricky Rubio had 11 assists.

What was Joventut's maximum advantage in the match?

Joventut had an 8-point lead (83-91) in the last quarter.

When was this match played?

The match was played on June 10, 2026.

Where was the match held?

The match was played at the Roig Arena in Valencia.

What does this result mean for the tie?

This result means that Valencia Basket takes a 1-0 lead in the semifinal series.

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