By Alex Molina/ info@eurohoops.net
After many months of competition, the Liga Endesa playoffs were decided with a postponed game. The Barça-Valencia Basket match, which brought the regular season to a close, determined five of the eight playoff spots, a game dominated by only one team.
Valencia Basket secured a resounding 77-102 victory, securing their place against Surne Bilbao after finishing in second position. Barça drops to fifth and will face UCAM Murcia, with home-court advantage going to Sito Alonso’s team.
Led by a stellar performance from Montero (19 points), Valencia controlled the game from start to finish. If the 14-28 score at the end of the first quarter wasn’t enough, the visitors’ lead ballooned to 19 points at halftime, 27-46, which arrived with a chorus of boos from the Palau crowd directed at their players for their lack of intensity.
The halftime break changed absolutely nothing, and Valencia Basket even extended their lead to over twenty points despite Shengelia’s (17 points) attempts to get his team back on track. The second half became a mere formality, leading to Valencia Basket’s victory.
With the score at 54-75 at the end of the third quarter, the boos returned to the Palau Blaugrana, but even this warning from the fans failed to elicit any reaction from the home team. The game finished with the same dynamic, but with a new element in the stands. The Valencia fans staged a protest, refusing to cheer at all during the final quarter – undoubtedly the worst possible way to start the playoffs.
Liga Endesa Playoffs
(1) Real Madrid – La Laguna Tenerife (8)
(4) UCAM Murcia – Barça (5)
(2) Valencia Basket – Surne Bilbao (7)
(3) Kosner Baskonia – Asisa Joventut (6)
Make