Valencia Basket crushes Barcelona at Roig Arena
Valencia Basket defeated FC Barcelona 93-81 in the ACB League opener, solidifying their strong start at the new Roig Arena. Under Pedro Martínez's guidance, the team displayed solid and defensive basketball that dismantled their opponents. With 14,800 spectators, the pavilion buzzed in a celebration highlighting the club's growth.
The ACB League season has just begun, but Valencia Basket is already running at full speed. In their third victory in a week, the team coached by Pedro Martínez beat Barcelona 93-81 at the brand-new Roig Arena, a pavilion positioned as Europe's best and drawing 14,800 enthusiastic fans.
From the start, Valencia imposed their style: defend, run, and shoot, the coach's commandments. They led 21-10 in the first quarter and went into halftime with a 27-15 advantage after a solid performance. Key players like 19-year-old point guard Sergio de Larrea, who dominates the game, and 21-year-old defender Issac Nogués with quick hands, shone on the court. De Larrea, raised in Valladolid, orchestrated the offense, while Nogués, world sub-19 champion with De Larrea two years ago, excelled in defense.
Barcelona, under Joan Peñarroya, arrived with a new playbook and star players but failed to maintain control. In the first half, they faced an unrelenting Valencia and went into the break pondering what had happened. In the second half, they improved defense and closed the gap to 71-63 with contributions from Punter and Marcos, but a technical foul on Peñarroya and a three-pointer by Darius Thompson extended the lead to 80-63.
The addition of versatile Kam Taylor balanced the roster between stars and role players. Barcelona showed a need for more practice: Clyburn showed signs of importance, but Juani Marcos, Willy Hernangómez, and Toko Shengelia made no difference. This win not only adds to the standings but gains 6,000 new followers for the club, making Roig Arena an untouchable fortress.