By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Opening the 2025-26 Regular Season of Spain’s Liga Endesa, Valencia provided a statement win, 93-81, over FC Barcelona in a packed Roig Arena.
With Ethan Happ, Xabier Lopez-Arostegui, Jean Montero, Nate Sestina, and Yankuba Sima unavailable for head coach Pedro Martinez, and Sergio de Larrea forced to an early exit due to a shoulder issue, Darius Thompson stood out with a game-high 16 points. Neal Sako threw in 13 more points.
On the wrong end, Will Clyburn scored 16 points. Miles Norris was ruled out due to roster restrictions on foreign players, alongside injured Nicolas Laprovittola and Juan Nunez.
Earlier in Movistar Arena, Real Madrid netted 14 three-pointers to beat Dreamland Gran Canaria, 81-71. Mario Hezonja scored 13 points. Gabriel Deck, Usman Garuba, Theo Maledon, and Gabriele Procida did not suit up for the team guided by Sergio Scariolo.
Also, 34-year-old Ricky Rubio formally returned to the ACB, after previously sitting out the 2024-25 season, with 18 points, four assists, three steals, and three rebounds for Joventut Badalona in a win, 87-75, against Coviran Granada.
In one-way traffic elsewhere in Round 1 on Sunday, Casademont Zaragoza defeated Baskonia, 107-88, and UCAM Murcia blew out MoraBanc Andorra, 95-64.
ACB Round 1
Unicaja – Surne Bilbao 86-68
Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos – Girona 97-79
La Laguna Tenerife – BAXI Manresa 104-93
Hiopos Lleida – Rio Breogan 87-68
Coviran Granada – Joventut Badalona 75-87
Real Madrid – Dreamland Gran Canaria 81-71
Casademont Zaragoza – Baskonia 107-88
UCAM Murcia – MoraBanc Andorra 95-64
Valencia – FC Barcelona 93-81