The initial basket, 0-2 at Fonteta, was the only advantage that Perfumerías Avenida had in the entire final. In two games. A fact that speaks of the superiority of Valencia Basket, an armored team, an unbeatable team since they won the League a year ago. Since then all the national titles have been his: League, Super Cup, Copa de la Reina and this second League, which unlike the first, in Salamanca, in front of less than a hundred fans, this time he celebrated it in front of 7,500 followers, a women’s basketball record in their fiefdom.
Valencia Basket’s defense is the essence of this team that is on its way to becoming a dynasty, that is sewing one title with the next, that cannot find a rival to throw it to the canvas in Spain. The three titles this year (League, Copa de la Reina and Super Cup), the last four in a row (with the League from a year ago). His virtue, the first of many, is the defense of his basket, a task that does not understand names or stars. It doesn’t matter whether a player from the starting five is on the court or one who comes off the bench. Defense is non-negotiable. And that strangles his opponent, who finds no respite. Almost forty minutes paddling against the current. Only then can Laura Gil finish with two points from two free throws.
Queralt Casas is the first link in the defense. A torment for rivals. Whoever they are. When his team began to sense that the title was almost done, midway through the last quarter, there were a few minutes of doubt, vertigo, and rush. But the captain, the soul of this team, was there to restore order. A steal, a triple and an assist aborted any threat of rebellion from the charro team.
Rubén Burgos’ team did not need this time even the prominence of Alina Iagupova, its most differential player. Her squad has such variety that at the end of the League Nadia Fingall emerged, one of those players who is not looking for the MVP and who left La Fonteta with the individual trophy after achieving 15 points, 12 rebounds and 3 assists. A prize for a center who entered with a changed foot and who, over time, has ended up being fundamental. A spark within the area that appears everywhere.
Perfumerías, present in the last 18 finals, at the top of the list with its eight titles – just like Ros Casares, another team from Valencia that dominated national and European basketball at the beginning of the century – was trailed from the second minute of game. Their field goal percentage, below 20% in the first half, prevented them from standing up to the champion, a team that left them at 41 points. Only Sina Koné (16 points and 8 rebounds) had a moment of dominance in the paint. But he gives the impression that a new basketball dynasty is beginning in Spain.
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