Valencia Basket consolidated its leadership by beating (96-79) a direct rival like La Laguna Tenerife, which dominated the match in the first half but gave way in the second, when its rival, led by Kam Taylor (30th vote), took command and took the match where it wanted. Pedro Martínez’s team has improved a lot in defense in recent games and this allows them to continue adding victories despite having decreased their accuracy in shooting from outside.
Tenerife needs a 42-year-old like Marcelinho Huertas too much. His inspiration is inexhaustible, but when he sits down to rest he misses the team too much. In the first half, physically stronger, with Valencia more lost, he led his teammates despite the sticky and overwhelming defense of Brancou Badio, who did an exceptional job on both sides of the pitch.
Tenerife’s success in the net (only five missed shots in the first quarter), the home’s trademark, puts Valencia in difficulty. Pedro Martínez’s team was unable to impose its own rhythm and did a lot to follow the lead of its opponent. Vidorreta’s men, without any major consecutive series, were gaining increasingly advantageous advantages until the Catalan coach was forced to put things back in order (29-36).
Before the restart, when all his teammates had already gone to the bench after warming up, Huertas remained last, kissed the ball and shot, before joining the group to listen to the final instructions. Then the Brazilian jumps onto the hardwood and, with his chameleon eyes, with that innate ability to see everything in attack, puts his team into play and transforms it, with less than the others, into one of the best in Spain.
But this Valencia is very Valencia and came out of the break more involved and more successful in defence. Pedro Martínez’s group took over in the second half (55-47). The “taronja” team lets the attack flow into the hands of the most talented, fine and elegant boys who play with their defenders, but also relies on the workaholic work of Badio, Puerto or Pradilla.
Kim Taylor raised the level of her game (23 points, seven rebounds and two assists) and helped Valencia to always be in the lead, with a lead that was around ten points as time ran out. With 80-70 and a five-minute lead, Huertas was back. But not even with those: Valencia Basket was already flying, happy, far away, as leaders of the ACB League.
