King's Cup Basketball 2026: Grand Opening at Modern Roig Arena

This year's edition of the Copa del Rey goes down in history as the first major sporting event held at the Roig Arena, a modern facility in Valencia. The tournament gathers the cream of Spanish basketball, with fans' eyes particularly on the clash of giants already in the quarterfinals. Unicaja Malaga, last year's surprise winner, faces Real Madrid led by Sergio Scariolo. This coach returns to the cup competition after a twelve-year break, adding extra flavor to the rivalry. The Copa del Rey is one of the oldest and most prestigious basketball tournaments in Europe, held regularly since 1933, even before the establishment of the nationwide Spanish league.A highlight of the tournament is the return of Ricky Rubio to cup competition after a 15-year hiatus. The point guard for Joventut Badalona, who recently resumed his career after a break for mental recovery, emphasizes that his main goal now is to enjoy playing. His presence on the court is a magnet for fans and media, especially as his team, led by Dani Miret making his debut as a cup coach, will face the tournament host. „I came back to enjoy the game and I do it every day.” — Ricky RubioOrganizers predict that the hosts, Valencia Basket, could leverage their home-court advantage, although historical statistics often work against the tournament host. The competition promises to be extremely tight, and on the other side of the bracket, favorites like FC Barcelona led by Xavi Pascual await, set to face ambitious UCAM Murcia. The tournament will last until February 22, when the new king of Spanish basketball will be crowned.[{"round": "Quarterfinal", "team1": "Valencia Basket", "team2": "Joventut Badalona", "score1": 0, "score2": 0}, {"round": "Quarterfinal", "team1": "Real Madrid", "team2": "Unicaja Malaga", "score1": 0, "score2": 0}]15 years — Ricky Rubio's hiatus from cup appearances