Valencia 88–83 Bizkaia Bilbao Basket | Liga ACB | 17 May 2026

Valencia Basket held off a fierce fourth-quarter rally from Bizkaia Bilbao Basket to claim an 88–83 victory at La Fonteta on Sunday night. The win keeps Valencia firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish in the Liga Endesa standings, while Bilbao slipped to their third loss in four games.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, Valencia controlled the tempo through aggressive pick-and-roll offense and crisp ball movement. By halftime, they had built a 48–39 lead, powered by 14 points from forward Xavier López-Arostegui and sharp shooting from beyond the arc. However, Bilbao refused to fade. A 10–2 run early in the third quarter cut the deficit to four, and the visitors entered the final frame trailing just 68–65.

Key Moments

• Third quarter surge: Bilbao's guard Ludvig Håkanson hit two consecutive triples to spark the comeback, finishing with 18 points and 6 assists.
• Clutch defense: Valencia center Boubacar Touré blocked a driving layup by Bilbao’s Álex Reyes with 90 seconds left and the score tied at 81.
• Free‑throw seal: Chris Jones calmly sank four free throws in the final minute to push the lead to 88–83 and ice the win.

Standout Performers

Xavier López-Arostegui led all scorers with 23 points on 8-of-14 shooting, adding 6 rebounds. For Bilbao, Ludvig Håkanson was the engine, posting 18 points, 7 assists, and 3 steals. Valencia’s point guard Chris Jones contributed 16 points, 9 assists, and 4 rebounds, directing the offense with poise under pressure.

Tactical Story

Valencia’s ability to exploit mismatches in the paint was decisive. Touré and center Jaime Pradilla combined for 22 points and 14 rebounds, punishing Bilbao’s smaller lineup. Bilbao’s zone defense caused problems early in the third quarter, but Valencia adjusted by attacking the gaps with dribble penetration. Turnovers told part of the story: Valencia committed only 9, while Bilbao gave the ball away 14 times.

Season Impact

The victory moves Valencia to 22–8, solidifying third place in the ACB table behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. Bilbao falls to 16–14, now tied for eighth with UCAM Murcia. With four regular‑season games remaining, every result matters in the race for playoff positioning.