Basconia faced a tough playoff game in which the home crowd of nearly 7,000 fans added to the pressure inside the Olympic venue. The result was a decisive 83-76 win for Joventut Badalona, earning them a spot in the Endesa League semifinals for the second straight year. They will meet the winner of Real Madrid versus Gran Canaria in the next round.
The regular season runner-up from Vitoria faced a familiar test as Joventut brought strong energy to the floor. In February, this same arena also hosted a clash between these two teams, a reminder that the Cup had already left Baskonia before the quarterfinals this time around.
As in that February meeting, Joventut shone in the second half. Kyle Guy delivered 22 points and found a reliable ally in Guillem Vives, who added 15 points and helped unlock the offense with a steady stream of three-pointers.
A standout factor was Joventut’s aggressiveness on the boards, collecting 15 offensive rebounds as a team. That effort helped lift Carles Duran’s squad into the top four of the ACB standings. In the opening twenty minutes, both sides leaned on the three-point shot, with Joventut hitting 7 of 15 and Baskonia converting 16 of 7 from beyond the arc in a fast-paced first half.
For Baskonia, Kyle Guy and Guillem Vives led the way from distance, with Guy going 3 of 4 and Vives 2 of 2. Markus Howard was the top scorer for Baskonia with 13 points, and Rokas Giedraitis contributed nine. The Lithuanian center Tomic also impressed, providing scoring and playmaking, while Parra was held scoreless in the first period but contributed later.
Four early three-pointers gave Joventut a fast start, moving ahead 16-11 when the clock hit eight minutes. Baskonia showed gaps in perimeter defense and limited impact inside, though Howard interrupted the green-and-black momentum as the first frame ended with a close score of 21-19.
At the start of the second period, both teams leaned on their interior players. Ante Tomic opened with a field goal, and Kotsar responded from the stripe as the physical battle in the paint intensified. The pace stayed high as both teams traded baskets and contested every possession.
Sedekerskis and Howard helped Baskonia regain the lead, but Joventut extended its offense by targeting Birgander near the rim and testing Feliz one-on-one on the perimeter. The visitors briefly retook the advantage as the quarter wore on, but a late surge by Joventut, sparked by strong execution, kept Baskonia within reach.
Moments later, a defensive lapse allowed Joventut to seize control as the game moved toward halftime. Baskonia’s defense struggled to slow the Ornate rhythm of the Joventut offense, and by the time the break arrived, the score showed a narrow edge for the visitors, 46-40.
The third period was a roller coaster. Kotsar nudged Baskonia ahead again, but Joventut answered with timely plays from Guy and Vives. The hosts regained the lead and stretched it with a late burst, the clock showing 71-62 after a spectacular buzzer-beating three from Guy that electrified the arena.
Following a social media shout-out praising Guy’s performance, the home crowd roared with every lingering possession, hoping for a dramatic late push. Yet Baskonia found themselves short-handed when Howard picked up a fourth personal foul with 2 minutes and 28 seconds remaining, forcing a rotation that interrupted the team’s rhythm. Three Baskonistas charged into a defensive stance, attempting to slow the Joventut engine, but the decision altered the flow without yielding the needed shutdown.
With the American presence off the floor, Baskonia watched the greens and blacks press forward. Tomic delivered assists and score when needed, and Kyle Guy added a clutch triple as the period ended, lifting the visitors to a comfortable 71-62 cushion heading into the final stanza.
The tension remained high as the fourth period began. Joventut maintained control with Feliz and Tomic providing steady scoring, while Baskonia struggled to mount a comeback. A trio from Costello briefly sparked a glimmer of hope for the home side at 77-67, but the lead remained out of reach for Baskonia as the minutes ticked away.
Confusion and nerves characterized Baskonia’s late push, and the team could not convert in the closing stretch. Joventut kept their rhythm intact and stretched the lead, eventually sealing the game and clinching the series with a decisive 83-76 victory. The win reflected the visitors’ sharper execution and their efficiency from beyond the arc when it mattered most.
The final scoreline and the atmosphere in Badalona underscored Joventut Badalona’s resilience and strategic execution under pressure. It was a playoff performance that echoed their February showing and reinforced their status as a force in the competition as they eye the semifinals against the winner of Real Madrid versus Gran Canaria.
Data sheet:
83 – Joventut Badalona (21+25+25+12): Vives (15), Guy (22), Parra (3), Brodziansky (13), Tomic (6) -starter kit-, Ventura (-), Feliz (13), Birgander (4), Kraag (3) and Ellenson (2).
76 – Baskonia (19+21+22+14): Thompson (15), Marinkovic (3), Giedraitis (14), Costello (5), Kotsar (12) -first team-, Howard (16), Heidegger (5), Díez (3) and Sedekerskis (3).
referees: Hierrezuelo, Aliaga and Manuel. Eliminated Markus Howard by five personal margins (min. 37).
events: The second match of the Endesa League championship playoff quarter-finals played in front of 6,917 spectators at the Palau Olímpic in Badalona.