The game began with Valencia setting the pace and taking advantage of Casademont’s difficulties in containing their shooting plays. Casademont quickly fell behind (3-8), with Sheppard scoring the Aragonese side’s first three-pointer, but a second foul for Hempe, their interior reference, in the sixth minute made matters even more difficult. Continuous fouls on shooting attempts gave Valencia too many trips to the free-throw line, and the first quarter ended 14-22. In the second period, the lead grew to as many as 17 points (16-33), forcing Cantero to call a timeout.
The reaction began before halftime, with a 4-0 run allowing Casademont to cut the deficit and reach the break trailing 31-40, leaving the game wide open. The Aragonese side looked sharper after the interval and found renewed energy at both ends of the court.
A COMEBACK THAT WENT UNREWARDED
Casademont came out determined to change the script and gradually closed the gap. Hempe’s four-point play helped launch a 10-10 run to make it 41-50, and the red-and-blacks continued to chip away until they were just six points behind (46-52). A three-pointer from Helena Oma and two free throws by Mariona Ortiz tightened the score further (52-56), before Nerea Hermosa made it 54-56 with 1:36 remaining. Shortly afterward, Vitola converted two free throws to tie the game and complete a comeback that had seemed unlikely just minutes earlier. Valencia, however, ended the third quarter in front (57-58).
The start of the final period raised the Aragonese side’s hopes even further. Two consecutive baskets by Laia Flores put Casademont ahead 61-58 and gave them their best stretch of the game, although Valencia responded immediately with a 0-5 run to reclaim the lead. From there, the Valencian team punished every mistake to reopen the gap: Voracková hit a three-pointer to make it 64-69 with 4:30 remaining and, after a poor turnover by Sheppard and an unsportsmanlike foul, the score moved to 64-75 following a three-pointer by Helena Pueyo and a 3-17 run by the visitors.
Casademont tried to keep its hopes alive with two three-pointers from Sheppard that cut the deficit to eight points, but there was no longer enough time or accuracy to complete a comeback that had taken the team from 17 points down to the brink of victory. The final score of 73-84 sends Valencia Basket into Sunday’s final, while Carlos Cantero’s team is already looking ahead to the start of the Liga Femenina Endesa, scheduled for October 4 at 12:15 p.m. at the Pabellón Príncipe Felipe against Impulso 360 Estepona.
