Bàsquet Girona is close to victory in Bilbao (86-80)

First Team | Sunday, 24 May 2026

Bàsquet Girona has narrowly avoided victory on one of the most complex courts in the Endesa League after falling to Surne Bilbao Basket (86-80) in an electric duel that was decided in the last minutes. Moncho Fernández’s team put together a very serious match, dominating the electronic game in several phases and reaching a maximum lead of seven points in the last period thanks to great collective solidity. Despite the Basques’ final push from the triple, the Girona team took pride in being only three points behind in the last half minute, but the final points from the home team have sentenced the clash.

Good defense and the success of the initial three-pointer made the first half 3-13, with Minda’s six points from long range standing out. Little by little, Bilbao started to catch up with Font’s pace, but the home advantage helped maintain the lead (11-17). In the final stretch of the first quarter, both teams increased their offensive pace, exchanging baskets quickly, which led Moncho to stop the game (20-23). ​​With a minute left in the period, Font tied the game and then Hlinason put the home team ahead for the first time (25-23).

In the first Girona attack of the second quarter, Otis made it +1, but Petrasek’s three-pointer gave the Basques the advantage again (31-28). Hilliard extended the gap for the home team (34-28), but two consecutive baskets by Cameron forced Ponsarnau to stop the game (34-32). Despite the turnovers (6 in the second quarter), Geben’s good timing allowed the Girona team to get closer to the score before halftime (42-41).

After the locker room, both teams fine-tuned their aim by exchanging points from long range (50-49). With a 2+1 from Needham we were ahead (50-52), but again, Hilliard’s successful three and a transition from Normantas put the +3 in favor of the locals (55-52). With the points from the free throw line, Bilbao maintained the advantage (62-58), but the points from Hughes, Derek and Maric signed a 0-7 run to reverse the situation (62-65), closing the third quarter three up (64-67).

In the last quarter, Geben scored a three to put the lead at +7 (64-71). Having said that, personal fouls reversed the dynamics of the match, putting Bilbao at just one point, so that Hlinason could then score from under the basket (72-71). After Moncho’s timeout, Pepe’s offensive transition ended with a basket from Geben (72-73), but a three-pointer from Pantzar and free throws from Petrasek turned the score around (77-73). Cameron tried to bring Girona closer, but Hilliard’s three-pointers punished the reaction attempt (83-75), forcing Moncho to stop the match with 1:51 left in the game. Derek did not forgive from long distance and then Cameron scored a good tackle to put the lead at -3, leading Ponsarnau to call a timeout with 28.6 seconds to go (83-80). The quick foul led Jaworski to score from the penalty spot, and Bilbao ended up winning 86 to 80.