The players of Kosner Baskonia pulled off a huge surprise by defeating Real Madrid 100:89 in the Copa del Rey final match, played at the modern Roig Arena in Valencia. For the team from Vitoria, this is their first triumph in this competition since 2009 and the seventh title in the club's history. The architect of the success turned out to be Italian coach Paolo Galbiati, who in his debut season led a team written off for failure to victory over the favored giants.

End of a Seventeen-Year Drought

Baskonia won its seventh Copa del Rey, defeating Real Madrid 100:89 and lifting the trophy for the first time since 2009.

Galbiati, the Architect of Success

Italian coach Paolo Galbiati, in his first year working in Spain, built a winning team from ten debutants.

Luwawu-Cabarrot's Record

The French forward recorded 28 points and a 32 performance index rating, becoming the hero of the final clash in Valencia.

MVP Award for Forrest

American point guard Trent Forrest received the title of Most Valuable Player of the final tournament.

The final clash in Valencia brought an end to the long-standing dominance of the Madrid-Barcelona duopoly. Baskonia, entering the tournament as an underestimated contender, displayed extraordinary determination, recovering from early deficits and taking control of the match in its decisive phase. The key figure of the game was Frenchman Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, who scored 28 points, setting a new efficiency record for a Baskonia player in the final of this competition. MVP of the entire tournament, however, was awarded to American point guard Trent Forrest, whose steady form and composure in key moments proved invaluable for the Basque team. This success has a symbolic dimension, as it was achieved by a team consisting of as many as ten debutants in the cup competition. On their way to the final, Galbiati's charges eliminated, among others, FC Barcelona and La Laguna Tenerife, proving that the return to the so-called „Baskonia character” has become a fact. Real Madrid, led by Sergio Scariolo, despite a good start and the ambitious play of Andrés Feliz, failed to respond to the offensive disposition of their rivals. This defeat is a painful blow for the royal basketball section, ending a series of successful finals in recent years. The Copa del Rey (King's Cup) is one of the oldest and most prestigious trophies in Spanish sport, with its first basketball edition held in 1933. Baskonia, formerly known as Tau Cerámica, celebrated its greatest triumphs at the beginning of the 21st century, becoming the third force in Spanish basketball.The event at the Roig Arena also had a political and social dimension. The presence of King Felipe VI in the stands elicited mixed reactions from the audience, where the traditional whistles of Basque fans were drowned out by the applause of the hosts from Valencia. The new venue, financed by entrepreneur Juan Roig, underwent its baptism by fire as a large-scale arena, increasing traffic in the local Metrovalencia network. Official victory celebrations are planned in Vitoria at Virgen Blanca Square, where the players will present the trophy to their fans. „El trabajo duro paga y esta Copa nos va a unir. He sobrevivido a ser dos veces despedido; soy un superviviente” (Hard work pays off and this Cup will unite us. I've survived being fired twice; I'm a survivor) — Paolo Galbiati

Mentioned People

  • Paolo Galbiati — Baskonia coach, main architect of the Copa del Rey success.
  • Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot — French basketball player for Baskonia, scorer of 28 points in the final.
  • Sergio Scariolo — Real Madrid coach, who had to concede superiority to the rivals in the final.
  • Trent Forrest — American point guard for Baskonia selected as tournament MVP.