Valencia holds off Bizkaia Bilbao Basket in a tight 83-80 thriller

In a fiercely contested Liga ACB encounter at the Font de Sant Lluís, Valencia edged past Bizkaia Bilbao Basket 83-80 on June 4, 2026. The home side needed every ounce of composure in the final minutes to see off a determined Bilbao outfit that refused to back down. The victory keeps Valencia firmly in the hunt for a top-four finish, while Bilbao will rue a handful of missed opportunities down the stretch.

Match Overview

From the opening tip, both teams traded blows in a game that featured nine lead changes and four ties. Valencia’s depth in the frontcourt proved decisive, particularly in the paint, where they outscored Bilbao 38–30. The visitors, however, matched the hosts from beyond the arc, shooting 42% from three-point range. The pivotal moment came midway through the fourth quarter when Valencia’s bench sparked a 9-0 run that turned a one-point deficit into an eight-point cushion. Bilbao clawed back to within three with 20 seconds left, but a critical defensive stop on the final possession sealed the result.

Key Moments

• Second-quarter surge: After a sluggish start, Valencia closed the first half on a 13-4 run to take a 45-40 lead into the break.
• Bilbao’s third-quarter response: The visitors came out firing, winning the period 24-18 and taking a 64-63 lead into the final frame.
• Decisive 9-0 burst: With the score tied 68-68 with 5 minutes left, Valencia’s second unit produced a game-changing spurt capped by a corner three and a fast-break dunk.
• Clutch defense: Bilbao’s final possession saw a contested three-pointer rim out as time expired, sparking celebrations among the home crowd.

Standout Players

Valencia received a huge boost from center Bojan Dubljević, who finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds, dominating the glass on both ends. Guard Chris Jones added 16 points and 7 assists, orchestrating the offense with poise under pressure. For Bizkaia Bilbao Basket, Ludde Håkanson was the leading scorer with 22 points (5-of-8 from three), while Melwin Pantzar contributed 14 points and 5 assists in a valiant effort.

Season Implications

The win lifts Valencia to a 23-9 record, keeping them in third place in the ACB standings, just two games behind league-leading Real Madrid. For Bilbao (17-15), the loss is a setback in their push for a playoff spot, dropping them to ninth place. With only a handful of games remaining, every result carries significant weight in the battle for postseason positioning.