Refitel Nadunet Basquet Lliria left the island with a hard-earned 77-72 victory over CB Sant Antoni in a Spain Segunda FEB clash that stayed in the balance until the final two minutes. The visitors from Valencia produced the decisive run of the night late in the fourth quarter, turning a narrow deficit into a five-point win in a game where neither side ever looked capable of pulling away for long.

The result rewards Lliria's composure in the closing stretch, while Sant Antoni are left to reflect on a strong defensive effort that was undone by a cold spell from the perimeter and a handful of costly turnovers when the game was there for the taking. It was a contest built on defensive intensity, physical rebounding and half-court execution rather than open-court flair, and the final scoreline reflected that grind.

Match Overview

Played in front of a lively home crowd, the game opened at a cautious tempo. Sant Antoni looked to establish their big men early, attacking the paint through post-ups and second-chance opportunities, while Lliria answered with patient ball movement and mid-range shooting. The first quarter finished with the hosts holding a slender advantage, having forced Lliria into several contested shots late in the shot clock.

The second period brought the first real momentum swing. Lliria's bench provided a spark, with aggressive perimeter defense leading to transition points, and the visitors briefly opened a lead of seven. Sant Antoni responded before the break with a run of their own, cutting the deficit to a single possession at halftime and restoring the sense that the game would be decided in the final minutes.

Key Moments

• Second-quarter surge: Lliria's second unit changed the rhythm of the game with back-to-back steals and fast-break finishes, forcing Sant Antoni into an early timeout.
• Third-quarter response: Sant Antoni came out of the locker room with renewed purpose, reclaiming the lead behind strong offensive rebounding and a pair of three-pointers from the wing.
• The decisive run: Trailing by three with under four minutes remaining, Lliria scored on four consecutive possessions, including a corner three and a tough baseline jumper, to take a lead they would not surrender.
• Free-throw execution: The visitors closed the game out at the line, converting key attempts in the final minute to keep Sant Antoni at arm's length.

Tactical Story

Lliria's game plan revolved around controlling the glass and limiting Sant Antoni's second-chance points after halftime. Their switch-heavy defensive scheme forced the hosts into isolation basketball in the fourth quarter, and the resulting low-percentage shots allowed the visitors to complete the comeback. Offensively, Lliria's spacing was the difference down the stretch, creating driving lanes and open looks from beyond the arc.

Sant Antoni, for their part, will feel the game slipped away in the details. Their half-court defense was largely excellent, holding Lliria to 77 points in a road environment, but the hosts struggled to generate clean looks when their primary scorers were denied the ball. A late switch to a smaller lineup improved the spacing, but the shooting touch never fully arrived.

Standout Performers

Lliria's backcourt dictated the closing minutes, combining ball security with timely shot-making, while their interior rotation did the dirty work on the boards. Sant Antoni's frontcourt was the engine of their best stretches, dominating the offensive glass and scoring efficiently around the rim, and their wing defenders were responsible for keeping the game close deep into the fourth.

Season Impact

The win gives Refitel Nadunet Basquet Lliria valuable momentum and an important road result in the Segunda FEB standings, where away victories against direct competitors often prove decisive in the race for playoff positioning. For CB Sant Antoni, the defeat is a frustrating one, but the performance showed enough defensive quality to suggest they will remain competitive in the crowded middle of the table. Both teams now turn their attention to the next round, with Lliria looking to build on their late-game execution and Sant Antoni focused on converting tight games into wins.