Offensive onslaught in the second half for a commanding win at Surne Bilbao Basket (72–116)

Valencia Basket secured a resounding team victory on the road against Surne Bilbao Basket, winning by 72–116 in a game that began brightly and allowed them to build an early lead. Although we struggled to find the basket in the second quarter, we managed to head into the half-time with a narrow advantage before blowing the game wide open in the second half, scoring 79 points to set a new ACB record for points in a half.

A strong start and early scoring from Reuvers helped Valencia build a cushion that allowed them to withstand the three-point shooting of Petrasek and Normantas, as well as their own scoring drought in the second quarter. A late burst from Costello before halftime sent the team into the locker room with a two-point lead.

After the break, Brancou Badio ignited Valencia’s offensive explosion with ten consecutive points, and then Jean Montero took over in a third quarter that produced 36 points, during which the team missed just three field-goal attempts. Despite the growing gap, Pedro Martínez’s men kept pushing, adding 43 more points in the final period without missing a single two-point shot, stretching the margin to its maximum by the final buzzer.

Post-game quotes: Pedro Martínez

“I think we played well, but I haven’t been able to speak in detail with Jaume. I get the feeling they had some kind of physical issue, because right from the start we were surprised by the players they put on the court, who aren’t the usual ones. They looked a bit short of energy, and I’m sure they had some physical problems that made them fight really hard in the first half, which they did very well. In the second half, they dropped off.

Bilbao are having a very good season, especially at home, but also away from home they compete very well and play very good basketball, as Jaume’s teams always do. Everything is well thought out, with a solid, very intelligent defense, and today they weren’t able to do that, and we took advantage of the situation.

We started the game very well and built a lead, but then Bilbao reacted brilliantly and for many minutes of the second quarter they were dominating us. At halftime it was a new game, just a two-point difference. At that moment, neither we nor they thought we were going to build the kind of advantage we did in the second half, and for me it doesn’t have a tactical explanation.

I’m convinced of what I’ve said before: all my respect for Bilbao, for how they play and for the season they’re having. What happened in the second half isn’t normal; their season is much better than what was seen in that second half, and for me there’s no clear explanation for it.”