Jean Montero masterclass puts Valencia on brink of Liga Endesa title
Valencia moved closer to the Liga Endesa crown by beating Barcelona 88-80 in Game 3 of the Finals, taking a 2-1 lead in the series. After dropping the opener, the visitors have won back-to-back games and are now one victory away from the title.
How the game unfolded
Barcelona started sharper than in the previous meetings, disrupting Valencia’s usual rhythm and holding the lead 17-15 after the first quarter. Early defense kept Jean Montero and Brancou Badio quiet, but Valencia responded in the second quarter when Sergio De Larrea hit a pair of threes to ignite a 12-0 run. The run gave Valencia a double-digit cushion, though Tornike Shengelia helped Barcelona close the gap to 40-36 by halftime.
The second half belonged to Montero. The Dominican guard came alive—knocking down shots from deep, attacking the rim and setting up teammates—pushing Valencia’s lead back into double digits and sending them into the fourth quarter up 71-57. Barcelona fought back in the final period thanks to a hot spell from Dario Brizuela and a louder home crowd; Valencia went through a five-minute scoring drought that allowed the hosts to tie the game.
When momentum swung, Valencia made the plays that mattered. Brancou Badio hit a tough three, Montero drew and converted free throws, and Barcelona’s rushed offense and too many second-chance opportunities for the visitors ultimately cost them. Valencia closed the game stronger and held on for the win.
Montero’s impact and what’s next
Montero finished with 29 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Kameron Taylor added 13 points for Valencia. For Barcelona, Tornike Shengelia led with 23 points and Dario Brizuela had 13; Kevin Punter struggled to find his shot and ended with five points.
Valencia now leads the series 2-1. Game 4 is scheduled for Wednesday at 8:00 PM, with Barcelona hosting once again. The winner of that game could shift the balance dramatically as the series continues.
