Barcelona steals 113-112 overtime thriller in Valencia to open ACB finals with a bang
Will Clyburn's three straight triples in the dying seconds forced overtime and Barcelona rode that wave to a 113-112 victory at the Roig Arena, stealing home-court advantage in the best-of-five Liga Endesa final.
First-quarter storm
Valencia came out blistering in the opening game of the ACB playoff final, punishing a flat Barcelona defence for a 25-13 first quarter. Badio, Costello and Taylor repeatedly exploited the visitors' confusion as the hosts built their biggest lead at 38-24 early in the second period. The Roig Arena crowd smelled a rout, but the margin slowly shrank before halftime.
The comeback gathers pace
After the break Nico Laprovittola and Will Clyburn turned the contest into a new game. Barcelona's defence tightened and the scoreboard tilted. Kevin Punter, who had started cold, found his range and the Catalans closed the half at 52-47 before eating even deeper into the lead during the third quarter. Laprovittola's playmaking and Clyburn's scoring carried the rally.
Valencia's last stand
With 27 seconds left in regulation, Valencia led 99-95 and appeared to have the opener wrapped up. Jean Montero and Brandon Taylor had re-energised the home attack, answering every Barcelona push with clutch baskets. The game seemed decided until Will Clyburn detonated three consecutive three-pointers, the last tying the score and forcing an extra period nobody in the building expected.
Overtime drama
In the extra session Barcelona held their nerve while Valencia gradually deflated. The teams stayed within one possession of each other, but a final stop sealed a 113-112 triumph. The win gives the fifth-seeded Catalans a 1-0 series lead on the road and shifts all pressure onto the top-seeded hosts.
- Valencia opens with 25-13 lead after first quarter
- Valencia extends lead to 38-24 early in second
- Barcelona cuts deficit to 52-47 at halftime
- Valencia leads 99-95 with 27 seconds left
- Clyburn's three triples tie game, forces overtime
- Barcelona wins 113-112 in overtime
What it means for the series
Xavi Pascual's pre-series warning proved prophetic. His side, already swept La Laguna Tenerife 3-0 in the semi-finals, extended their playoff perfection. For Valencia, the loss is a blow to a club chasing a historic double after the women's team already claimed the league title. Game 2 remains at the Roig Arena on Saturday, with the series shifting to Barcelona if the visitors can repeat the performance.We are facing the best basketball in Europe.
