Yesterday, the Valencia-Madrid showdown was billed as an early final, a semifinal that has already become legendary in Spanish basketball history. Today, the true final arrives (19:00 CET on DAZN). The Copa del Rey trophy is on the line as Real Madrid, the King of Cups chasing a 30th title to widen the gap over Barcelona (27), faces Baskonia, a giant of the competition aiming to reclaim its former glory.
Baskonia returns to the final for the first time in 17 years, since their 2009 victory over Unicaja at the Palacio de Deportes in Madrid. In the Copa, that is—over the past 15 years, they have celebrated two league titles: the 2010 championship against one of Barcelona’s best-ever teams, and the 2020 bubble title secured by Luca Vildoza’s game-winning shot. Vitoria’s club is fourth on the all-time winners’ list with six trophies, all captured during a magical 15-year span bridging the late 1990s and early 2000s.
This 90th edition of Spain’s oldest basketball tournament will feature an unprecedented final—these two teams have never met at the last hurdle for the trophy. Baskonia’s golden era (2002, 2004, 2006, 2009) was followed by Madrid’s resurgence: after a 19-year drought, Los Blancos have won seven Copa titles since 2012. Coach Sergio Scariolo seeks his first cup victory since returning to the club, and only the second of his tenure after the league title Djordjevic led in 2000.
Madrid enters as the heavy favorite, facing a Baskonia side fueled by immense emotion. Half an hour after knocking out Barcelona with Diakité’s iconic two-handed block, the Baskonia fans were still chanting for their players as security cleared the Roig Arena stands. Rodions Kurucs, one of the heroes of this run, came out as the team’s advance guard to greet supporters one by one. The Latvian has been decisive in both the quarterfinals and semifinals, even though he could barely walk on Tuesday and was on crutches by Wednesday.
The odds give Baskonia little chance, but the game must be played. Vitoria’s team defeated Madrid in their only ACB meeting this season, a striking 105-100 at the Buesa Arena. With players like Forrest, Howard, and Luwawu-Cabarrot, Baskonia faces a Madrid squad featuring Campazzo, Hezonja, Tavares, and others with immense talent but limited experience in such high-stakes finals—though yesterday served as “the baptism of fire so they can make their first communion soon,” as one observer noted.
Scariolo knows that at the “Casa Blanca,” you cannot get swept away by emotions in a final—winning is what matters. Paolo Galbiati, who turned 42 on Friday, may savor this achievement even more. After a very tough start in Vitoria, he has lifted the team. Great work and coaching talent. The Italian praises his compatriot: “In my second year in Milan, Scariolo was coaching Olimpia. I was with the youth team. For me, he is a top-3 coach in European history—with Spain, with clubs… An example, a master.”
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